Floating on air

After an injury ended his career as a professional ice hockey player, Swedish-born Linus Fernström made it his mission to design the perfect home. He built a villa for himself and his family on the west coast of Sweden with breathtaking views of the Hake Fjord.

When you enter the 230 m² building and look through the floor-to-ceiling windows and Design sliding doors in the living room, the sea appears to stretch out from under the house like a carpet. This impression of floating is a cleverly planned illusion, conceived by the client Linus Fernström himself. Architecture has fascinated him since childhood. However, instead of pursuing a career as an architect, he chose sports and became a successful ice hockey goalkeeper at an elite level. But as fate would have it, his career on the ice ended abruptly four years ago when he suffered severe concussion. It was a shock initially. But Fernström didn't let it get him down and saw his new situation as a sign to devote himself to his second passion: architecture. He became a house designer – and where better to start than his own home?

On the bright side

The language of design is minimalist both outside and inside. The doors stretch from floor to ceiling, as do the wardrobes and passageways between the rooms. The interior design is simple, neat and pared-back, with seamless transitions from room to room and not even a skirting board in sight – nothing that, from Fernström's point of view, might “disrupt” the appearance. The aim was for people and the view of the natural surroundings to dominate. The elongated house structure on the hillside therefore forms a barrier to the road and the neighbours with only a few windows on that side. Almost all of the light comes into the house from the side facing the water. “This allows us to enjoy the afternoon sun and the enchanting evening sunsets in peace and quiet on our large veranda and terrace,” explains the 35 year old, who has since founded his own architectural practice.