Villa Olivia surrounded by snow

The footprint of this summer residence, framed entirely in cross-laminated timber, is carefully accommodated into the woody site’s sensitive terrain. Incorporated under the same roof, high in the roofspace, are the benches of the sauna’s steam room.

The building has been designed in order that certain zones can be left unheated for maximum efficiency in winter months, and it has natural ventilation. Detailing throughout is dictated by the attributes of the framing material, and even components such as stairs, doors and ventilating hatches are made from off-cuts of CLT.

Photo: Mika Huisman / Decopic