A Scandinavian-style house is the personification of coziness, simplicity and comfort. Typically, such buildings are erected from natural materials (stone, wood).
As the name suggests, the architectural movement originated in the Scandinavian countries - Denmark, Sweden and Norway. This part of Europe has a harsh climate, so the experience of Scandinavian builders is also applicable in Russia.
Features of facade design
The facade is the face of the house and its design is given special attention. Scandinavian style involves wooden cladding of external walls. The surface of the wood is covered protective compounds, preserving the natural structure of the material, tinting is sometimes used.
The walls are also painted in soft colors - beige, brown, terracotta, gray, dark green. Individual elements of the facade (platbands, wind boards) are made in colors that contrast with the main background.
Roof
Considering that in the Scandinavian countries a lot of snow falls in winter, the roofs of houses are often made gable, with a steep slope. This way the snow melts away faster without creating unnecessary stress on the roof.
Their shape can be either classic or asymmetrical. Distributed mansard roofs with windows allowing efficient use of the attic space.
The roofing material is metal tiles or modern polymer materials. Different colors are allowed, depending on the design of the house. There is another one in Norway original way design of roofs - grass is planted on them.
Windows
The windows of Scandinavian-style houses are of considerable size and height, and panoramic glazing is also practiced. Thanks to this, daylight easily penetrates into the rooms, making the rooms bright and cozy.
Window frames are made of wood, which emphasizes the naturalness and environmental friendliness of the style. For panoramic glazing, energy-saving double-glazed windows made of plastic that imitates wood can be used.
Porch
The Scandinavian style is characterized by the presence of a large porch. In addition to it, there may be a terrace located in front of the house or in the backyard.
More often the site is surrounded wooden fencing, painted to match the facade of the house, but there are designs without it. The terrace can be located under the roof or open.
Features of interior decoration
The Scandinavian style of the house is reflected not only in the exterior, but also in interior design. Simplicity and conciseness also prevail here. The walls are plastered and painted white or other calm tones.
Often internal lining The walls are made of wood (, lining). The surface of the wood is coated with a translucent varnish that protects the material and preserves its natural appearance.
Regarding furniture and decorative elements, preference is also given to light colors. This eliminates the problem that is typical for northern countries – lack of light in the premises.
Special types of houses
Wooden houses and cottages in the Scandinavian style are more common, but one cannot fail to mention buildings that combine various materials and elements of other architectural trends. Let's look at the two most popular of them - half-timbered and Gothic.
Half-timbered
The term "fachwerk" means frame. Respectively, distinctive feature This style is the presence on the facade of the house of sections of vertical, horizontal and inclined wooden beams.
The space between the frame is filled with masonry and insulation, and the resulting surface is plastered. The beams are painted in colors that contrast with the walls.
The abundance of beams allows you to create interesting patterns and make the facade unique. But this design also has a drawback - wooden elements require regular inspection and periodic repairs.
Gothic style
Walls of the house in gothic style, as a rule, are built of stone. The facade of the building resembles a small castle. The roof has a complex shape, with small turrets. The windows are narrow and high, stained glass is used.
Sometimes the facade is decorated with carved wooden or stone elements. A massive porch adjoins the house and is decorated with columns.
Design Features
Many Russian architectural bureaus offer custom-made designs of Scandinavian-style houses. Let's consider several popular options for buildings, both expensive and budget.
Lux
The facade of the luxury Scandinavian-style house is made of natural wood, the beams are located horizontally. The building stands on monolithic foundation, there is a spacious terrace.
Series panoramic windows fills rooms with light. The project is ideal for country house, located in the forest.
Summer house
Compact one-story house built in Scandinavian style - great option for the dacha. The cladding is made of horizontal lining, the wood is painted in dark colors.
Panoramic windows open onto a spacious terrace. This summer house is suitable for a family holiday.
Modular
Modular houses are assembled from ready-made container blocks. Their advantages are the speed of construction and the ability to build without a foundation.
The photo shows an example modular house in Scandinavian style with panoramic glazing, light wood paneling and veranda. The building looks simple but elegant. Such houses are suitable for outdoor recreation and private living within the city.
Cottage
The Scandinavian cottage differs from the classic version of the cottage in the abundance of windows and soft tones of the façade design. The house in question is made of profiled timber, painted in gray tones, with white contrasting frames. In front of it there is a veranda with a wooden fence. Such a cottage - perfect solution for the suburbs and the private sector.
Chalet
The architectural style of the chalet originated in the Alps, but it has common features with Scandinavian style. In both cases, the houses are built primarily from wood, have a veranda and a sloping roof. The photo shows an example of a combination of these styles, in which Scandinavian panoramic glazing is added to the classic version of the chalet.
Minimalism
- a new architectural direction, which is characterized by the absence of decorative elements and maximum simplicity of lines. Such houses are often built according to frame technologies. The Scandinavian style of this house, designed according to the principles of minimalism, is emphasized by wide windows, a sloping roof and wood paneling facade.
Ranch
What happens if you build a Scandinavian-style ranch? Such a house will be low, but elongated in length. It may consist of several modules for various purposes, ideal for cottage and country living.
Mansion
Any mansion is characterized by luxury and solidity. Such houses necessarily have several floors and a complex roof shape, and the facade is decorated with columns and balconies. Panoramic windows are welcome unusual shape. The house looks organically both in the lap of nature and within the city.
As you can see, the Scandinavian style is applicable to solid buildings and small summer houses. Its laconicism and restraint are successfully combined with other architectural trends, which gives room for imagination.
Useful video: Scandinavian style in the interior of a country house
To everyone architectural style inherent certain elements, the use of which is determined by the way of life of the people in which this style arose, as well as climatic features. When choosing the appearance of your future home, think about what qualities it should have and what region it is intended for.
Styles and directions
In articles on this topic we will consider the following directions (styles):
- Western European (German) style;
- Classic;
- American Country;
- Swiss Country;
- Romantic direction;
- Modern style.
This article will examine Western European (German), Scandinavian and classical styles (classics).
Western European (German) style
A style based on practicality, economy and rationality. This is manifested in everything - in the layout, design, choice of materials and design features.
Shape of houses European style- a square or rectangle with a slight difference in the length of adjacent sides.
Windows in traditional German houses, as a rule, they are small, rectangular or arched, divided by binding into 6-10 sections. Often houses have shutters. Frames are traditionally massive, but recently Europeans have given preference plastic windows, with which neither large frames nor shutters are appropriate.
Doors in Western European private architecture, they are most often made of wood and painted in a color that contrasts with the color of the house wall.
Basement part houses in Western European style decorated facing tiles"like natural stone."
In a traditional German house there are no turrets, but there are almost always bay windows or balconies. Balconies are made as simple as possible, which cannot be said about bay windows - often they are the highlight of a European house.
Roof: Most often it is two-slope, but sometimes it is four-slope. Large angle of inclination of the roof overhang to the ceilings. The roofing is bitumen or metal tiles, most often in shades of red (but recently blue roofs have also become fashionable).
Entrance part is most often a low concrete stairs(several steps). Sometimes there is a canopy over the front door.
Layout features boil down to making the house as economical and rational as possible. Houses in Western European style most often have one or two floors plus an attic. In order to save space, the layout is designed in such a way that the house has a minimum of corridors.
Scandinavian-style houses are one- and two-story buildings, laconic and restrained in the northern style. Traditionally, houses in this region were made of wood that was only stained or varnished. Today, various colors of warm colors are in fashion - shades of red, brown, beige.
Windows Scandinavian-style houses are quite large, sometimes panoramic. The frames are wooden, massive, and the emphasis is placed on them.
Ground floor and basement are absent in Scandinavian-style houses.
Roof in Scandinavian-style houses the roof is covered with tiles, metal - painted or “natural” (copper is especially popular), or various polymer materials. It can be either sloped or flat. It depends on the architecture of the house, but pitched is much more common. Remove snow from flat roof very difficult, especially in the spring, but with a slope, this question can be left, literally, to chance.
Grass often grows on the roofs of Scandinavian houses:
In front of the front door usually a low threshold is built, sometimes a porch with a wooden staircase and carved railings, or a terrace.
Decoration of facades among the northern peoples carving is used, since here it is the most accessible view decor. Sometimes, but very rarely, houses have bay windows and terraces. Balconies are not in demand in Scandinavia due to the short summer and harsh climate.
Scandinavian-style houses usually have one floor, or one floor + attic, or less often - two floors.
It’s worth mentioning right away that the classical style in modern private construction very vaguely resembles the buildings of the classicist era. This is caused primarily by a change in lifestyle - modern owners of mansions do not need huge hallways and dance halls, and monumentality is no longer in fashion.
Facade cottage in classic style strictly symmetrical. The main formative lines are emphasized using color and clear shapes. The composition is always proportional and logically verified.
Windows and doors A classic-style cottage is always either rectangular or arch-shaped. The height of the ceilings should be at least three meters, respectively, the windows and doors are also large.
Framing windows and doors: massive frames, cornices, stucco.
Facade decor very diverse. Columns are a mandatory element.
Balconies- also a common detail of classic cottages.
Stucco, forging and engravings- very common decorative elements in classic houses. The classics are usually preferred by lovers of many decorative elements, so there is an abundance of depicted mythological scenes, as well as representatives of flora and fauna in the design of such cottages.
Features of the layout. Classic cottages are characterized by clear zoning of premises, spacious rooms. The guest area is located close to the entrance, the bedrooms are in remote parts of the house. As a rule, cottages in the classical style have two or three floors - this style is characterized by monumentality and grandeur, so it is difficult to “overdo it” here.
Entrance part The classic cottage is always given special attention. Entrance door visually stands out with the help of columns. Most often, a staircase is used, but there are also cottages with a small threshold (depending on the degree of “baroque” appearance of the house). To emphasize the splendor of the cottage and the unity of style, it is recommended to place garden sculptures made of white stone.
If there is a plinth, it is customary to finish it with stone (or “natural” or white).
Roof houses in a classic style often have a complex shape due to complex shape the house itself. Covered, as a rule, with tiles.
Recently, the “classic lightweight” style has also become popular. Those. Some canons of pure style are observed, but they are not at all mandatory:
A house with notes of Scandinavian design in its architecture and interior design cannot be called exotic for a long time. At the moment this is one of the most popular stylistic directions. Fashion magazines and designer stores are full of design ideas beautiful interiors in the style of the peoples of Northern Europe.
After all, it is Scandinavia that brings into the home the spirit of the northern peoples and all the valuable character traits that they possess. Of these, love for nature, frugality, family life and a measured pace of life are especially highlighted. No one else knows how to enjoy life and appreciate every moment of it like the native northerners. Let's try to figure out what are the special characteristics and accents of the Scandinavian style in the interior and external design houses.
Distinctive Features
Scandinavian design is distinguished by:
- Maximum amount of natural light, and also finishing materials and decorative elements decorated in light shades color palette, which visually increases the space. This is also facilitated by the natural flow of different territorial zones of the house into each other. Thus, the kitchen can be combined with the living room or dining room, preventing natural light from being obstructed by unnecessary doorways.
- Natural materials, used in construction, decoration, room furnishings and textiles. If “naturalness” is absent in certain aspects, Scandinavia assumes its visual imitation. For example, artificial brick, fur and other materials.
- Practicality. Any accessory or piece of furniture involves its direct use. Northerners are not fans of pretentious luxury.
- Modesty in design and furnishings.
The Scandinavian design of a separate small room or a huge country house with a terrace is, first of all, a mirror of the owner, which reflects his attitude to life, sense of style and comfort. Despite the traditions inherent in this style, the direction is as modern and relevant as possible.
A touch of Scandinavia suitable for the interior anyone who appreciates comfort hearth and home and the warmth of home.
If you have always dreamed of living in a bright space filled with peace and serenity, you can always opt for the Scandinavian style.
Let's take a step-by-step look at the features of Scandinavian interior construction and design.
Number of floors
As with any project, building a house begins with its layout. As mentioned earlier, the Scandinavian style looks great in both small and fairly spacious areas. That is why a house can have more than just a mini-layout. Most often, Scandinavian-style private houses have no more than two floors.
If the house is two-story, a separate element of the interior is wooden staircase, connecting the tiers to each other. It can be an accent or, on the contrary, performing an exclusively practical function and succinctly fitting into the interior. For example, spiral staircases with large wooden steps can refresh the space, and standard type stairs are a purely practical element, including a storage system in the form of drawers built into the steps.
IN one-story houses The role of the second tier is often played by the attic. Houses with an attic look special not only due to their appearance, but also due to internal layout. The attic tier can combine a cozy place to relax, a children's room with the possibility of access to a spacious minimalist balcony. The functionality of the attic room directly depends on its square footage and the slope of the roof.
Facade
If a guest is greeted by his clothes, then a house is greeted by his facade. It was his artistic and architectural appearance influences what first impression a house will leave in a person’s memory: whether it will be warm acceptance or incomprehensible rejection.
Also, the facade of the house assumes full compliance with the location of the building. Thus, log cottages are most often found in natural landscapes outside the city, and buildings that look ultra-modern from the outside are found within the city or metropolis. The versatility and appropriateness of the Scandinavian style is another of its great advantages.
Exterior finishing Scandinavian style primarily implies practicality, and, of course, brevity. Northerners are very fond of the phrase “discreet beauty,” which is perfect for describing the appearance of most of these houses. Norwegian buildings are a clear confirmation of this. As a rule, the roof has a simple gable shape, and the façade of the house itself does not have many details or accents.
Initially, the house may be wooden, built from logs, hand-cut, or framed, which in the future also affects the need for its exterior decoration. For facade finishing frame houses wood is most often used. Natural materials are not the best cheap option, but they definitely look decent. Often the wood is covered with dark shades of paint. The most popular are dark blue, burgundy, deep emerald, and chocolate shades.
A more economical option is to cover the house with siding.
Windows
Windows, beams and platbands are also elements of the façade of a building and greatly influence its appearance. A feature of such a house is the presence of tall, rough windows; sometimes one of the windows can look out onto two floors, thereby combining them or having panoramic design. The frames are made of rough wood and are very massive. The platbands are absolutely minimalist and, as a rule, contrast with the color of the building.
Roof
The roof of Scandinavian-style houses is most often covered with tiles or decorated with painted metals. She has pitched structure and generally steep slope angles.
Interior decoration
What is hidden inside such a laconic and fascinating house? The color, light and general mood are initially set by its interior decoration. Even though in many ways it is minimalistic, it presupposes compliance with certain rules in creating a unified interior style. Let's look at a few important aspects step by step.
Walls and ceiling
Great solution for Scandinavian style walls it is white. It is he who reflects sun rays, filling the space with light, which is so lacking in the north.
The first step is white or beige plaster. Most often, the walls are perfectly smoothly plastered and covered with light shades of paint, and the choice of shade can vary from café au lait to shades of soft blue. When choosing, it is important not to put yourself in the framework of exclusively white, but to continue searching optimal option. The Scandinavian style favors the presence of no more than one or two leading colors, so multiple colors should not be allowed.
The choice of paint does not limit the flight of imagination; sometimes, as an accent, certain walls are covered with wallpaper. For example, collections of coatings from Swedish companies do not exclude small ornaments and also provide a sufficient selection of ideally matching patterns.
Quite often you can find brickwork or wood trim walls, which especially adds coziness to the interior. These can be wooden panels or wooden boards, located horizontally. The shade of the wood may also vary.
In addition to painting the walls, you can also paint the ceiling. Most often it is also performed in light colors. Ideally aligned, it is complemented by artificial lighting elements such as LED lamps or chandeliers.
Floor
Natural wood flooring is very often found in this interior style. The wood is coated with varnish or special oils that perfectly highlight its texture. This coating sets off the snow-white walls and makes the room visually warmer, also delicate shades wood perfectly complements carpeting, adding accents. As a rule, deep pile carpets or faux hides contrast with the color flooring.
Unlike the wood that covers most of the home's flooring, kitchen and bath areas are often checkerboard tiles. Ceramic tiles with different patterns perfectly complements the space and divides it geographically, adding variety.
Once the interior cosmetic decoration of the room is completed, and the zoning stage is no longer the most important issue, it’s time to fill the space. Time to choose furniture, combine textiles and other little things that complement the space. Time to put everything in its place.
Lighting
Perhaps one of the key elements of the interior. As already mentioned, Scandinavia offers maximum natural light, which is why northerners, without regret, get rid of curtains on their windows. A rare exception may be light white tulle or natural cotton fabric.
But what about in the evening? The Danish habit of lighting a large number of candles is unlikely to help provide adequate lighting. Light sources that are minimalist in design come to the rescue. For example, LED chandeliers, distinguished by their ergonomics.
Another advantage of such a lighting source is the power of the light flux and its direction. Compared to alternative light sources, LED lamps light up instantly and can also have various colors and shades of color, which also helps to play with the design of the room.
Artificial sources There must be enough lighting, which means that a chandelier alone is not enough.
The rule states that in any space there should be three light sources. Of these, the main one is the main lighting in the form of a chandelier, the additional one is directional lighting, such as lamps or floor lamps, and the third type is decorative, complementing the space and its atmosphere.
Any light source can become a harmonious part of the interior or a separate art object that adds a special accent. So, northerners are not afraid to use many alternatives in lighting: table lamps, floor lamps, wall and ceiling lights, hanging lanterns for terraces and decoration of the surrounding area. Light sources can come in different shapes and sizes, made from different materials.
Furniture and decor
Most likely, you have already guessed that the furniture in a Scandinavian interior is of the most practical nature and looks restrained and laconic. But these features are not the only features of the furnishing of such premises.
The fact is that modern Scandinavian design perfectly combines elements of a historical nature and absolutely new items. Thus, a vintage furniture masterpiece from the 50s and 60s can equally fit in a room. from a Swedish flea market and simple modern floor lamp. Not everyone is a connoisseur of designer antiques and is willing to pay a hefty sum for a shabby wardrobe. Someone's trying to make a cute little one country house, and for others a spacious country cottage.
Alternative solution is an affordable Swedish company Ikea, supporting the canons of minimalism and practicality. Everything from large furniture, items for a complete arrangement of a bathroom or kitchen to the smallest textiles and decor can be easily found from millions of beloved Swedes.
The main thing is to imagine the final picture of your unique space, and then, as they say, “if there is an idea, there is Ikea.”
It is the furniture that emphasizes the message that was originally laid down in the appearance of the house and its interior decoration. The furniture sets accents while remaining as simple as possible. Pretentiousness is not about the Scandinavian style. There will be no bends or unnecessary details on the cabinet handles; on the contrary, maximum simplicity and, of course, practicality.
Often the furniture is made of simple types of wood, such as birch, beech, pine: chairs, coffee tables, kitchen sets, spacious closets or convenient systems storage in the form of racks. Wicker furniture remains very popular. These can be comfortable wicker chairs, softened with blankets or pillows, stools, wicker elements in wooden sets, as well as floor boxes, convenient for storage.
Storage systems and a reverent attitude towards them are, perhaps, a special point in furnishing a room. Northerners, as true connoisseurs of minimalism in everything, also love clear structure and organization both in life and in housekeeping.
From here you can see a special attitude towards storage systems, the logic of organizing space in external manifestations, but also inside certain cabinets or closets. Nothing superfluous is the motto of the Scandinavians.
One of the main attributes of the Scandinavian style is the fireplace. It is not always of a practical nature, but it plays an important role in expressing the value of tradition and brings a special touch of warmth to the interior. Fireplaces can be made of brick or cast iron, and can be designed in a classic or modern style. What exactly your fireplace will be like depends entirely on the overall style of the room in which it is located.
The decor of such spaces is expressed in accents. Each thing that has a practical application, be it a carpet on the floor or a stylish lamp. Even a voluminous bookcase, complemented with candles and posters, is an excellent interior solution.
Textile
The coldness of the northern Scandinavian nature is more than compensated by the presence of a variety of textiles. It creates additional comfort and fills the house with warmth.
When choosing textiles, it is also better to give preference to natural fabrics. The living room will be perfectly complemented by a pair of cozy blankets in pastel shades. Pillows can be used not only in addition to the sofa, but also as separate seats on the floor. If you conditionally zone a place for reading, then a pair of pillows with Scandinavian patterns will harmoniously complement such a corner.
C The Scandinavian style, born in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, is by its nature extremely original - it has managed to avoid influence ancient culture and absorb all the diversity of traditions and features of those regions among which it began to form. Representatives of the Scandinavian peoples are characterized by restraint, even some severity, silence, equanimity and respect for the environment.
F the formation of the Scandinavian style in architecture and interior was facilitated by general features geography: jagged coastline, many fjords, cold and harsh climate, a large number of mountains and lakes, huge forests. It is the abundance of forests that determines the popularity of wood in Scandinavia - wooden architecture has been the main type of construction here since ancient times.
ARCHITECTURE
Traditional Scandinavian design is associated with simplicity, rationality and democracy. It is characterized by natural materials, laconic forms, environmental friendliness and quality. One of the characteristic decorative elements is the natural texture of wood, which can be preserved special technology processing. The house itself is distinguished by simple forms, minimal decor, but at the same time - exceptionally high quality production of all parts of the building.
Considering the fact that a lot of snow falls in Scandinavian countries, the roofs of houses are made pitched. This way the snow melts away without creating unnecessary load. Roofs with dormer windows have become widespread, allowing efficient use of attic space. In Norway, there is an original way of decorating roofs - grass is planted on them. It is worth noting that the height of the house rarely exceeds two floors.
Scandinavian-style houses require large glazing, an abundance of windows, through which natural light penetrates into the home, and on cloudy, long winter days, the inside of the house is as light and cozy as in summer.
When constructing a building, preference is given to natural materials, primarily calibrated or laminated timber. No less popular are frame structures, especially when constructing inexpensive houses. There are many brick and reinforced concrete buildings. But Scandinavians still love wood most of all. The facades of houses are finished with siding and covered with plaster. As a rule, calm, whitened tones are used: light gray, light green, light blue, with contrasting white, black is used, and the color of the wood is left natural. Scandinavian builders try to preserve the natural texture of wood, which is only emphasized by a colorless coating or tinting.
Scandinavian architecture is surprisingly organic, solid and in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape.
This is a very calm, devoid of unnecessary pathos, modest and comfortable, but at the same time extremely elegant style.
INTERIOR
I think that there is no person who would not like the Scandinavian style in interior design. It is attractive, radiating lightness, simplicity and at the same time sophistication. There is no pompous luxury or bright individuality in it; it cannot be classified as “piecemeal” in execution like the Art Nouveau style. The main goal of the Scandinavian style is to create a cozy and warm interior, in which it is convenient and pleasant to live. Due to the absence of expensive exclusive interior components, be it furniture or finishing materials, as in the art deco style, decorating a living space in this style will be affordable for a large number of people, because all the items that fill it are available in a regular modern store.
You don’t need to be an expert to immediately note the predominance of pastel colors in Scandinavian-style interior design. Beige, light blue, light green, light gray colors create a gentle neutral palette and have a calming effect. The main color, of course, is white. Of course, you can and should add bright accents where appropriate. Such accents are usually plants with their lush green foliage, bright textiles of pillows, decorative furnishings.
The main requirement for the materials used is their naturalness.Wood, metal, natural stones, glass, cotton, linen, fur, leather, ceramics, any of these materials can be safely used in the Scandinavian style.
Scandinavian furniture is practical and functional. Its shape is simple and light, not massive. When filling the room with it, there is nothing superfluous; there should be maximum free space left. Most often, furniture is made from light-colored trees (beech, birch, sometimes pine, spruce). For upholstery you can use suede, leather, cotton, linen.
A Scandinavian-style apartment is filled with natural light, so the windows should be large and the curtains light and let in the sun's rays. All possible use of a wide variety of lamps is welcome.
The ceiling is done without any fuss - you can hardly find any stucco or suspended ceiling in a Scandinavian home.
Used for finishing floors parquet board or laminate. Often seen light shades in floor finishing. White or light blue tiles are suitable for the bathroom. Thin rugs with floral or striped patterns, fleecy carpets, and clay ceramic objects will harmoniously decorate the interior. Wicker baskets and fresh flowers will complement the atmosphere of comfort and warmth. The walls can be decorated with frames with passport photos.
And the Scandinavians are especially fond of glass. It can be matte or transparent. The main thing is that there should be a lot of it! After all, it helps to diffuse light throughout the room, and this is extremely important.
An interior decorated in a Scandinavian style is good for both country houses and small apartments in which it is important to create home comfort without overloading the compressed space with massiveness, pomp and decoration. The simplicity of this style and at the same time elegance will always remain relevant, modern and chosen by people.
Each nation has its own idea of the architecture of a residential building and the design of premises. This is due to both national traditions and natural features one region or another. Scandinavia, this region of harsh and beautiful nature in northern Europe is no exception. And although each individual country can find its own characteristics, common to all Scandinavian cultures, principles of construction, organization of space and interior decoration buildings will unmistakably indicate its stylistic affiliation.Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are all Nordic countries that share a common architectural tradition. This is partly due to the fact that they historical development was similar - they did not experience the influence of the powerful Roman Empire, remaining pagan for a relatively long time. Actually, it was the pagan heritage that became one of the main themes of the beautiful architecture of northern modernism, the most interesting examples of which can be seen in Finland. In addition, the formation of the Scandinavian style in architecture and interior was facilitated by the general features of geography: a broken coastline, many fjords, a cold and harsh climate, a large number of mountains and lakes, and huge forests. It is the abundance of forests that determines the popularity of wood in Scandinavia - wooden architecture has been the main type of construction here since ancient times.
Traditional Scandinavian design is associated with simplicity, rationality and democracy. It is characterized by natural materials, laconic forms, environmental friendliness and quality. One of the characteristic decorative elements is the natural texture of wood, which can be preserved using a special processing technology.
Architectural features
What is the Scandinavian style in architecture? This can best be seen, or rather experienced, by visiting the world-famous library built by Alvar Aalto in the 30s of the last century in Vyborg. Simple and modest forms may seem rough and even unsightly to a person not interested in architecture - but at the same time every little detail has been thought out. This is especially felt inside the library. Upper diffused light, in which no shadows or glare will interfere with reading; heating pipes are hidden in the walls, thanks to which the room warms up evenly and is protected from drafts. And finally, a lecture hall with a wavy wooden ceiling for better acoustics. It is separated from the park by a glass wall, through which a stunning view of centuries-old trees opens. Actually, there are all the signs of a typical Scandinavian house– and simplicity of forms, and not bright colors, in harmony with northern nature, and huge windows with a view that promotes meditative contemplation.
Of course, the origins of Scandinavian architecture do not date back to the 30s. The traditional house in the Nordic countries was built from wood. At first it was a bare log house, then they began to sheathe it with boards. Houses sheathed wood siding or clapboard and painted dark red with white frames and window casings, are still being built to this day. This “two-layer” wall construction provides excellent protection from precipitation and piercing wind.
When nowadays people talk about the Scandinavian style in architecture and home decoration, they primarily mean Sweden and Finland. It is to these countries that we owe characteristic features modern interiors, where light wood is adjacent to glass, ceramics, metal, and the lines are clear and simple, but in this simplicity lies an attractive and discreet beauty. The Scandinavian style in architecture is not positioned as the result of high technology or artistic and decorative innovations. This is a very calm, devoid of unnecessary pathos, modest and comfortable, but at the same time extremely elegant option.
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Scandinavian home
A modern Scandinavian residential building is a building built taking into account the terrain and surrounding landscape. When building a house, they try to disturb the land as little as possible and, if possible, preserve most of the vegetation. Of course, if what is being developed is not a plot of virgin forest, but a field overgrown with weeds, then they will not “stand on ceremony” with the flora. But if the natural landscape in the construction area has sufficient color, then they will try to preserve all its elements, be it granite boulders or lichens covering the ground, and they will approach the issue of new plantings very carefully and make sure that they blend organically into the natural environment. And Scandinavians will never lay out a lawn in place of the luxurious vegetation of a pine forest, as we like to do.
The house itself is distinguished by simple shapes, minimal decor, but at the same time, exceptionally high quality workmanship of all construction details. And, of course, unique Scandinavian design. The height of a building rarely exceeds two floors. The colors are usually discreet - beige, brownish, lilac. Scandinavian builders try to preserve the natural texture of wood, which is only emphasized by a colorless coating or tinting. But individual parts are allowed to be brightly colored, for example, ridges and roof supports or gables. Although Norwegians, for example, prefer to paint their houses in bright colors in order to at least somehow resist the gloomy and gray northern winter. The neighbors decided not to be left behind, so brightly colored buildings have recently appeared more and more often in other Scandinavian countries.
Almost certainly, a Scandinavian house will have many panoramic windows through which it is so good to enjoy the surrounding landscape. But this does not in any way contribute to heat loss, since double-glazed windows provide sufficient thermal insulation. When constructing a building, preference is given to natural materials, primarily calibrated or laminated veneer lumber. Frame structures are no less popular, especially when constructing inexpensive houses. All materials undergo the most stringent selection and strict environmental assessment, so they are absolutely safe for health. The roof is covered with tiles, metal - painted or “natural” (copper is especially popular), or various polymer materials. It can be either pitched or flat. It depends on the architecture of the house, but pitched is much more common. Removing snow from a flat roof is very difficult, especially in the spring, but with a pitched roof this issue can be left, literally, to chance.
Of course, residential buildings are built not only from wood and building materials made from it. There are many brick and reinforced concrete buildings. But Scandinavians still love wood most of all. Moreover, modern technologies processing allows you to give it previously unattainable qualities - durability and ease of use.
Working for the public is alien to our northern neighbors, so the house is built and furnished in such a way that the owners find it pleasant and comfortable to live in. Strict Protestant traditions do not encourage provocative luxury, so Scandinavians simply will not understand people who thus show their superiority over others.
Interior design
Typically Scandinavian interiors are distinguished by several characteristic features. First of all, it is a modest, soft and elegant beauty. The second feature is that they are painted with light paint or finished wood panels walls; Low-key wallpaper for painting is also often used.
In Swedish or Finnish house it is extremely difficult to find a suspended or suspended ceiling rich color or complex design. However, like any non-traditional ceiling in general. But if it is possible to build a pitched ceiling in the attic, they will definitely do it, because it will give the room individuality. In addition, the room will become more spacious, and the space will be used more efficiently. A floor made of light boards, covered with transparent varnish, can add lightness to the interior of even a small room.
When decorating a bathroom or kitchen, the Swedes and Danes show amazing originality. Both small details and the main finishing elements can bring life into the style of a room. For example, walls covered with waterproof wallpaper of a hot fiery color and a structure reminiscent of a thin sliver. Such an unusual shade for a bathroom should perfectly invigorate on a dark winter morning. And in the kitchen you can find many pleasant and funny little things.
The textiles used in the interior are distinguished by the harmony of colors and patterns. Subtle colors and calm combinations are preferred. The elegant cream-olive stripe on furniture covers, so beloved by the Scandinavians, goes well with beige shade natural wood from which low and wide coffee tables. Huge windows are usually slightly covered with light curtains. Heavy curtains are not popular here - after all, most of the year there is not enough light, and during the short summer you don’t want to hide from it at all.
Straight lines and rectangular shapes of cabinet furniture made of wood and veneered chipboards are dictated by the basic concept of the Scandinavian style in interior design.
A variety of walls, cabinets, shelves, cabinets, tables, hallways are very functional, have modular systems, and due to light colors visually lighten the interior, filling it with a harmonious play of lines. Upholstered furniture has straight and simple symmetrical shapes. The upholstery is made from durable natural fabrics, leather and suede.
Typically, designers prefer to hide frame bases with upholstery, which gives upholstered furniture completeness of appearance and ensures harmonious combination with cabinet furniture.
The work of Scandinavian designers is distinguished, in addition to careful attitude to national traditions, love for natural materials- and not only to the tree. Metal, leather, natural textiles (linen and wool), as well as ceramics are materials that Swedish, Finnish or Danish interiors cannot do without. Furniture and accessories created by designers from northern countries are not only environmentally friendly, but also a unique combination of aesthetics and functionality.
Everything in home furnishings has been thought out to ensure maximum comfort - from strong fastening of parts, reliable transformation mechanisms that provide compact storage or new functionality of furniture, to beautiful and durable fittings. Moreover, interior items with the Scandinavian brand are almost universal and fit into most modern styles. They are practical, comfortable and do not go out of fashion for years precisely because they have optimal design and shape. Along with the creation of new models, enterprises again and again reproduce products loved by customers, only slightly updating them in the spirit of the times.
Scandinavian architecture is surprisingly organic, seamless and in perfect harmony with the surrounding universe. Perhaps it is this leisurely and contemplative approach to life, which begins at home, that lies the secret of the centuries-old prosperity of the descendants of the Vikings.
