Olle Lundberg's Sonoma Escape

One of my all-time popular posts was about architect/designer Olle Lundberg's cabin in Northern California. It's a magical escape home that highlights innovative architecture, creative re-use, and wonderfully earthy materials. Today I want to bring it all back with updated links and pics. In particular, check out the interview link below. Enjoy!

While Mr. Lundberg has designed homes for folks like Larry Ellison and public spaces like The Slanted Door Restaurant in San Francisco, his homes are decidedly more humble though filled with real design flair, due to his design/build approach.

"Architectural design is an inherently "arrogant" act.... On the other hand, when you build an object, no matter how much money you charge for it, you are still turning over something you built with your hands. It is a physical object, not an idea, and handing over something you built is I believe an inherently humble act. It is much more of a "gift", for it involves the essence of "craft", of making something by hand (unique, one-of-a-kind, personal) in an era where that is uncommon."

He calls his country home "The most over-published one-room building in the world." Located in Timber Cove, California, it is constructed from reclaimed materials salvaged from office buildings. The home is LEED compliant. Here you go.

LINKS:

• Lundberg Design
• Really nice interview with Olle @ The Architects Take
• Olle Lundberg in the NY Times, June 2, 2005

(Images: all from Lundberg Design, except Kim Komenich (Olle in pool))

Comments (32)

It will be difficult to return home to my high-rise condo in Chicago after seeing this!

Amazing

This retreat is so exciting and the setting is so serene. Makes me long for a brief vacation. I love some of his unique details. Glad to see he is taking into account 'green' building issues. I recently got the Certified Green Building Professional designation for our design firm, but this is only the beginning. There is so much to learn.

Absolutely idyllic.

goodness gracious

Beautiful home in gorgeous location.

Just to add some clarity: Timber Cove is on the Sonoma Coast, about 65 miles or 2 hours from Sonoma. Title was a little deceiving. Having grown up in Sonoma, I was thinking I'd see something familiar.

If you've never been to either location - find a reason and go!

“Our firm’s work is really about small projects, carefully crafted. It expresses the hand of the builder. The role of the craftsman is so rare today. You can take something hand-crafted and replicate it by machine, but then it’s no longer craft."

Very nice idea, but you're designing for IKEA, Mr. Lundberg.

Hypocrisy aside, I love this cabin through and through.

Oh wow...

just beautiful...

This is also one of my favorite posts here. I was smiling the minute I saw the teaser picture.

He calls his country home "The most over-published one-room building in the world."

Be my boyfriend.

I know what I want for my Birthday...

hot tub time machine :)

So fresh and free of clutter. It wouldn't be sustainable for my family; we're always running around with huge stacks of books and cooking equipment. I imagine that the pristine space would be soothing, and it almost makes me want to ditch all the books and equipment.

Almost.

There are so many things about this cabin to love. That rain barrel/cistern is incredible!

Just a TEENY technicality - "LEED compliant" doesn't really mean anything. Either it's LEED-certified or it's not.

Saw this house featured on an episode of "World's Greenest Homes" on Planet Green. It's quite nice. The loft is sort of scary, though. If you fall out of the bed for whatever reason, it's like a 30 foot drop.

It's like the opening credits to Petticoat Junction! Without the girls swimming in the tank, of course. Or Uncle Joe. Or the ridiculous theme song.

In fact, never mind.

(But I love this house, ever since first seeing it!)

mmmmmm, gorgeous! Oh, the home is lovely too. ;-)

I long to be there...

stunning.

sparse and modern, but also rustic and warm. want a tour.

Gorgeous - when can I move in?

thanks for all the nice comments - it is a magical place. just one response to "amenity's" post. there is an Olle Lundberg that designs for IKEA, but it is not me. He lives in Sweden. I like his eye for design, and would like to meet him, but his work does not have much to do with craft. There is a place in this world for nicely designed mass market items, in fact they may have much more impact on our lives than what I do, but it is not me. The royalties are probably nice though.

I love the barely there nature of the outdoor spaces and the outdoor furnishings on all of the Lundberg Design projects but I especially like that quality in this project. The last photo with the six side chairs and the coffee table really illustrates this - the slats of the wood in the chairs blend with the slats in the deck so the grouping is mirage-like. Beautiful!

A-ha, mystery solved. You should ask them to remove that link from the post, as it's a bit misleading and tarnishes the instant appreciation of your work's ethos/aesthetic.

Now I can full-heartedly attest to my admiration for this piece — without the moral qualms. So: fantastic.

Wow! I love it!

that. is. my dream home. it's perfect. ::dies::

I agree with amenity and sauceykat. The incorrect references to IKEA should be cleared up in the copy, particularly as Mr. Lundberg objects.

Go to this man's firm's website. It's incredible.

Corrections made - apologies and thanks for letting us know, Olle!

janel: there is still a link to the Ikea table legs.

sauceykat - thanks, last link removed!

no problemo!