Writer’s Studio and Garage is located in a suburban area of Oslo. On the site is a Biedermeier-style house from the turn of the century, built in brick and with lime-plastered walls. The house has a defined sill and articulated curved gables.
Courtesy of Vatn
The task was to design two buildings: a writer’s studio of 15sqm and a garage of 50sqm. The garage is placed 1m from the property line and the writer’s studio 4 m, and the distance to the main house is determined by fire regulations.
Courtesy of Vatn
Each building has two openings and a distinct difference from the inside to the outside. The wall section is doubled: interior walls are constructed from cast in situ, polished black concrete revealing the colorful aggregate, and exterior walls are made of light brick with deep shadow gaps.
Courtesy of Vatn
The brick bond references the main house with slight ornamentation of the sill. The sill of the writer’s studio extends one shift from the wall-line closest to the main house. The shift in brick bonds in the garage is the height of the main house sill, but also the exact height of the owner’s car.
Courtesy of Vatn
The writer’s studio has a 2mx2m pivot door in steel and a cheery wood desk with a smaller window. Right in front of the desk is a Copper Beech tree. The roof plates are in zinc, which will patinate and become grey over time. The yard is laid with cobblestones and the retaining wall separating the two new buildings is in granite.
Project Info
Architects: Vatn Architecture
Country: Norway
Area: 75 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Courtesy of Vatn
Design Team: Espen Vatn, Jelle Boone, Trym Tafjord Langeggen, Hanna Birkeland Bergh
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.