Fabel arkitektur: Adopting traditional techniques for moving forward

The architects at Fabel arkitektur have a specific approach when designing new houses and homes. With wood as the preferred material, they design buildings that are carefully embedded in the surrounding landscape.

Fabel arkitektur is specialised in wooden constructions and creates everything from detailed villas and holiday homes to inviting public spaces and larger structures. With a strong design language and a focus on the people who will actually use the space, the team creates architecture that both gives and takes place in its surroundings.

“For almost 12 years now, we have focused on the buildings’ anchoring to the surroundings, history and location and we see that the projects develop differently depending on the specific setting,” says Catharina Dahl Palmér, architect and co-owner. “With roots in the forests of Småland, we have developed a special interest in wood as a building material and in traditional craftsmanship and techniques.”

The team often works with timber. “Log houses are fascinating structures as you can take them apart, move them to another location, replace parts and build add-ons, and renovate them to be used for another purpose,” says the architect. “Using wood as a material is a sustainable way to build – and with a material that’s available just around the corner. By going back to traditional techniques, we look at what’s possible to do in the future.”

Photo: Malena Ridderstad

The award-winning Höghult house

Fabel arkitektur has recently been named Architect of the Year in Stora Formpriset 2024 by the magazine Residence. The jury’s motivation reads; “With neat proportions, simple materials and old wisdom, designed with a modern mind, Fabel arkitektur gives us the Höghult house, a lesson in future building.” The project was also nominated for the Kasper Salin Prize by Sveriges Arkitekter in 2023, amongst other prestigious awards.

The awarded building Höghult is a part of a large estate in the countryside on a site that is steep and overlooking the forest and a nearby lake, with a number of old buildings. The Höghult house consists of two equally sized volumes, both built entirely from wood; one part with a traditional closed horizontal timber structure houses a sauna, a shower and a bedroom, and another more modern part with open timber framing has a large open room and a patio on both sides.

“Our vision for Höghult was to add a building to the estate that was both restrained and magnificent at the same time and which had an interaction with the surrounding nature,” means Dahl Palmér. “Simplicity and clarity of vision is key throughout the process. Here, we used old timber techniques interpreted in a new way. The goal was that all additions and materials in the house that were not made of wood should be pure, honest, and easy to interpret.”

Photo: Kauppi & Kauppi

The single-family house Vallda

Another praised building is the Vallda house, situated in the southern part of Sweden. The single-family house has two very different sides; one side features the entrance, and the other side has several windows and glass doors with beautiful views from all rooms. The kitchen is the largest room in the house, where the owners can spend time with family and friends. The bedrooms are small but with great views of the landscape.

“The design of the Vallda house challenges how much space we need in our private homes and how large or small a single-family house needs to be in a country where it’s becoming more and more common to build large private residences,” adds Dahl Palmér.

Photo: Kauppi & Kauppi

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Recent award nominations for Fabel arkitektur:
• Nominated for Kasper Salin 2024
• Nominated for Ung svensk arkitektur 2024
• Nominated for Träpriset 2024