Fort Keeper’s House

We received the commission to design the fort keeper’s house back in 2009. However, due to organizational changes, the project was put on hold. When the repurposing of the fort was resumed in 2015, it turned out that our plan for the house had not been forgotten. We were asked to revisit and further develop the original designs.

The newly constructed fort keeper’s house arose from the need for a caretaker to live on site, a role identical to the original. We were tasked with creating a new fort keeper’s house for a fort with a new purpose, one that meets contemporary needs and requirements. The initial design from 2009 was inspired by the fort, the surroundings, and the desire to apply a fitting modern building method.

A large quantity of beams formed the foundation of the design. The original fort keeper’s house was made of wood. By pragmatically incorporating these beams with panel materials, we could create a “new” fort keeper’s house. The beams are assembled like a construction kit with bolts and nuts, and the walls and floors are finished with panel materials, reflecting how the engineering corps* might construct a prefab house today.

We have worked to further develop and adapt this building concept to modern living standards while keeping the original plan and objectives in mind.

The result is a house made of beams and panels, with the dimensions and proportions of a wooden (fort keeper’s) house. The colors and materials were chosen to align with the character of the surroundings and the building method. The character of the house is both modern and classic, reflected in its construction and appearance.

* Engineering corps: a branch of the military responsible for constructing temporary and permanent defense works. The name is derived from the French word “ingénieur.”