rever & drage architects has designed a detached house for a young couple in sunndal, norway who wanted a small, affordable home. as the couple envisioned that their family would grow, they therefore wanted a building that could be expanded over time. the man wanted a romantic and cozy building, while his wife, a deer hunter, wanted a practical building with space for guns and other hunting equipment.

all images by tom auger
 
 
rever & drage?s design ? named ?1/3 house? ? comprises an insulated two-storey building with a footprint of 50 square meters, and an uninsulated utility space that is about double in size. the latter area of the scheme, which has the potential for expansion, currently functions as a storage room, garage, workshop, banquet hall, and a space for butchering deer. the windows in the insulated section are organized in a traditional way, while the hall/veranda has a more industrial and temporary appearance.
 
 
?the simple economic concept is that the owners have now built the part that they could afford, while the rest has untapped potential for what life might bring,? say the architects. ?by completely extending the roof at the beginning of the project, they significantly reduce the work for adding space when needed, and they have the area under the roof as a resource in the meantime.?

 
 
the insulated part of the project is organized around a warm core on both floors. on the ground floor the entrance, kitchen and living room encircle...