Sommarnöjens northernmost outpost

Emil has always had a strong attraction to the Nordic nature. Over the years this has included many cycling trips and hikes in both Sverige and Norge, Island and Färöarna.

For Emil, an officer in the armed forces and a consultant for the UN, it is a much-needed contrast to an often intense foreign service. The idea of a small house far up north, far from the roaring city life, is a dream that has long been in his thoughts.

In recent years he has commuted between Försvarshögskolan in Stockholm and Nord Universitet in Norwegian Bodø, just a ferry ride away from Lofotens majestic mountains and fjords:

– Since the university where I research and write my doctoral thesis is so close to Lofoten, I began to wonder whether I could combine that with buying a house there instead of spending money on renting an apartment, he says.

Sommarnöjen was an early conceivable option – Tidlös Sommar 50, which Emil later bought, had been on his radar for over ten years:

– Tidlös Sommar, with its tjärvitriol-clad facade, interacts so well with the nature up here, because I knew I wanted my house somewhere in the northern Nordics. The model also resembles a barn or stable building, which blends very well with the landscape in Lofoten.

– For me, turnkey houses are the future, so I never considered building anything myself. It is considerably more sustainable to produce houses that way and also easier to oversee the construction process given all the dishonest practices that exist in the industry.

Emil found the building plot by pure chance during a road trip when he happened upon a farmer who owned land on Lofotens northern side, just over twenty kilometers north of Svolvær. The land, which had never been advertised, turned out to be a real stroke of luck. Twenty minutes and a handshake later Emil was the owner of a plot with a magnificent view over Vatnfjorden and the Matmora mountains:

– The nature here is incredibly powerful. Sure there are many tourists in Lofoten, but my plot is very remote. Here you hardly see any people at all, while I have access to fantastic hiking trails and kayaking trips right outside the door.

The secluded location, however, proved to be something of a challenge when it was time to deliver the house. With infrastructure that is not suitable for larger transports it is difficult for trucks to get through in Nordnorge, where the roads are often narrow with low tunnels.

Transport control is something Sommarnöjen usually does for the customer, but in this case Emil chose to map a route from Narvik to Lofoten via Google Street View.

– There was no information in Google Maps about the height of the tunnels, so I found a route manually where the trucks could pass. I also contacted the captain of the car ferry to Lofoten who helped me schedule the transport based on the tide, because the load was so heavy that it could only be transported when the water was at its highest.

After weeks of logistical trials the house was finally in place in spring 2023 and today Emil can boast of Sommarnöjen's northernmost posting, where he year-round is treated to natural spectacles such as the midnight sun and the northern lights through the large windows in the living room.

For his house Emil chose the Berg floor plan with the interior style Varm, where the massive spruce has been white-waxed to retain its light colour. The bathroom, with granite-ceramic flooring and fully tiled walls, was customised with the design from the interior style Rå. Finally, stone flooring was laid in the hall to provide extra protection against dirt and gravel.

The flexibility around his requests for various changes is something Emil particularly appreciated during the construction process with Sommarnöjen:

– What is so good about Sommarnöjen is that you have the freedom to decide a great deal yourself. Compared with other companies, I also think that Sommarnöjen uses the best materials that give that premium feeling.

In the Berg floor plan the private area and the social area are placed enfilade. This provides views through the front long side and one short side, while the rear long side protects against prying eyes. The window in the rear bedroom was installed in a larger size and moved to the opposite end of the room so the sea view would really come into its own.

But of course the house would not have been complete without a warming stove in the living room:

– When I'm here there really is no bad weather, whether it rains or the wind blows. It is very peaceful to sit in front of the stove and watch the clouds sweep by or the northern lights that glow in the dark.

For those with land abroad who are eyeing Sommarnöjen, Emil recommends doing thorough research of the local conditions, not least which building laws apply in the country:rn– Sommarnöjens houses are built according to Swedish building law and if the house will be located abroad it is important to be aware of which laws and regulations differ between the countries, he advises.