House on Gotland is a vacation house for a family of four, located south of Visby on the island Gotland, Sweden, designed by Etat Arkitekter.
The house is situated in the Baltic sea the nature on the island is formed by a harsh climate and lime-filled soil, dominated by flowering meadows and low juniper bushes. The Gotlandic culture is deeply rooted in traditional sheep-herding and local handicraft, with a building tradition of plain and robust stone houses with strong material presence.
The vacation house was conceived as a distinctly contemporary building in dialogue with the surrounding nature and local building tradition. Building materials where chosen according to their material presence, durability and ability to age and weather in a beautiful manner. The building is oriented towards the west, facing a large flowering meadow to the west, and a field of grassing cattle to the north. To the south and east the site is surrounded by trees and low bushes, giving it a secluded character.
The interior is divided by semi-walls from the roof, defining each space and lending it a different character. The building is constructed in rendered light-weight concrete blocks and concrete, with a wooden roof, so called faltak. The interior consist of a concrete floor and rendered walls combined with wooden surfaces – and sliding doors – in ash. Windows, sliding windows and exterior doors are made in Swedish northern pine.
