This Tiny Boathouse in Norway Is a Private Retreat in Plain Sight

In the North Sea along the Norwegian coast, a barn-red cabin perches at water’s edge, but it’s not the only one. "Outside Fredrikstad, southeast of Oslo, the area is characterized by small bathhouses, boathouses, and piers from the early 20th century," says architect Espen Handegård.

But Handegård took a slightly different approach in designing the 193-square-foot boathouse for a young couple wanting to relax at water’s edge. The walls are made of vertical acrylic panels interspersed with heart pine boards that are angled at 45 degrees toward the water. Sitting on chairs inside, the couple can look out and take in vistas of land and sea, and the boards provide complete privacy.

"The slats close the building toward the back and open it toward the front," Handegård says. "You’re sheltered, but you’ve a view of the entire sea."

The pine boards support the pitched corrugated-metal roof, and the entire structure is painted red, as is the style in the area. "It looks like a traditional Norwegian boathouse—especially from the path at the back—but at the same time, it has a modern design expression," Handegård says.