The Norwegian studio Snøhetta and the Swedish real estate company Next Step Group have broken ground on the Lakehouse, located within the outskirts of Gothenburg, in Sweden. The building is part of a larger project which aims to transform an old quarry into a new sustainable neighborhood called “Wendelstrand”. Set to be completed in 2024, the communal building has been designed to be used by everyone living or visiting Wendelstrand. This new residential area will offers different eco-friendly housing typologies, public areas and a park that twist and turns within the complex, ending in a green roofscape atop the Lakehouse.

The building will provide various amenities – a restaurant, café, shops, event spaces, office spaces, a gym, and a wellness center – collected under one common, green roof. Following the developing of natural topography, the Lakehouse is designed to invite people in, on and around it.

The interior design of the ground floor and the two lower floors is highly influenced by the history of the site, its previous function as a quarry, as well as the rocky surroundings; while the top two floors are inspired by tree houses, in order to generate a dreamy atmosphere.

Snøhetta decided to prioritize the use of natural, local materials with high bound energy and low CO2 emissions. Most of the construction is realized with wood and stone, while the color scheme has been adapted to blend with the surroundings.