How Villa Österlen Balances Communal Connection and Quiet Retreat

Summary

• Note Design Studio’s Villa Österlen is a contemporary Swedish longhouse blending into rolling hills
• The layout balances communal family spaces with quiet privacy
• Interiors feature Swedish pine and granite, creating a warm, sacred atmosphere

The Villa Österlen, designed by Note Design Studio, is a contemporary residence in southern Sweden that reinterprets the traditional skånelänga farmhouse typology. Set within a historically protected area, the project adapts to the stepped terrain and surrounding orientations, creating a structure that feels both rooted in local heritage and distinctly modern.

Its plastered stone walls and Rheinzink roof echo the tones and materials of the region, allowing the house to blend harmoniously into the landscape while maintaining a strong architectural presence. Designed to interact organically with its environment, the house features a metal roof that will develop a matte finish and a façade that will naturally evolve over time. An oversized skylight on the roof serves as a prominent architectural feature for the site. Internally, the spatial planning is deliberately engineered for both connection and retreat.

Inside, the design emphasizes warm Swedish pine, paired with Norwegian slate and Bohuslän granite, chosen for their durability and environmental responsibility. A special finish applied to the wood creates soft, milky tones that interact dynamically with the changing daylight, giving each room a unique feel depending on how light moves through the house. Additionally, the interior details and the ceiling strongly convey the home’s deep materiality. This craftsmanship establishes a warm, intimate, and almost sacred atmosphere that continues seamlessly throughout every room in the house.