A barrel-vaulted roof sits atop this family holiday home, completed by architect Mats Fahlander over the rocky terrain of a Swedish national park (+ slideshow).

Swedish architect Mats Fahlander designed the summer house and accompanying guest house for a site on the north-west coast of Slavik. It forms part of a complex of seasonal retreats owned by a family who has been regularly visiting the area for years.

"For many generations, members of a large family have spent their summers here. As the family grows, more houses are built," Mats Fahlander said.

The new summer house provides a holiday home for one of the sons and his young family on a site between two Swedish fjords. It is surrounded by the older residences, many of which date back to the 1950s.

The structure is raised off the ground with stilts, leaving the rocks below largely untouched. A timber framework gives the building its barrel-vaulted roof and a surrounding wooden balcony offers residents a view out to sea.

"A timber construction is covered with a nearly maintenance-free mineral facade in the same shade of grey as the rocks," Fahlander explained. "The rounded roofs derive their shape from the surrounding weathered rocks."

An open-plan living room and kitchen offers views of the fjord and creates an area for the family to socialise in the evenings. Sliding glass doors allow this space to open out to a patio area nestled into the rocks.

Three bedrooms back onto the living room and feature sparse interiors, designed to allow the family to be as close to nature as possible. Like the living room, their walls are lined with panels of exposed fir.

Coal burners dotted through the interior help to heat the summer house in the colder seasons, while full-height glazing allows natural light to penetrate the space.

"When the interior walls are set alight by the low sun from the west, the house becomes a glowing eye-catcher from the ocean," said Fahlander.

Nearby, a guesthouse with a fourth bedroom offers extra space for visiting friends and also contains a traditional Swedish sauna.

Photography is by Ake E. Son Lindman.

Here's some more text from Mats Fahlander:

Summerhouse, Slavik, Sweden

The summerhouse is located between two fjords on the Swedish northern west coast. The site is surrounded by a national park and nature characterised by rounded granite rocks and windswept trees. Other houses in the area, mostly summerhouses from the 1950s, are more of a pavilion type than representative of the local building tradition.

For many generations, members of a large family have spent their summers here. There are no visible plot boundaries, living standards are simple, the sea and the surrounding nature are the main attractions. As the family grows, more houses are built.

The latest addition to date is a house located on one of the highest points in the area designed for one of the sons, with room for his family and guests. The house hovers lightly above the ground which is left untouched. It is possible to walk around the house on an outdoor bridge hanging on the facade, floating above the rocks.

The contrast between the sometimes rough climate and the easy summer life informs the design of the house. A timber construction is covered with a nearly maintenance-free mineral facade in the same shade of grey as the rocks. Painted parts are white according to the tradition of the west coast. The rounded roofs derive their shape from the surrounding weathered rocks.

A room for socialising, cooking and eating fronts the ocean, with large sliding windows towards the expansive view. Entrance hall, bedrooms and bathroom are placed at the back. An extra bedroom and a sauna are located in a nearby guesthouse. The interiors of the house are completely covered with panels of untreated fir. When the interior walls are set alight by the low sun from the west, the house becomes a glowing eye-catcher from the ocean.

Architect: Fahlander Arkitekter AB, Mats Fahlander
Contractor: Byggtjanst i Lysekil AB
Area: 90 sqm + 28 sqm