Set in a commanding position overlooking the Kattegat, Villa Lerkil demonstrates how expressive architecture can operate in tandem with the building materials of the future. This exploratory yet understated private house incorporates a range of bio-based materials, enabling a significant reduction in conventional construction components such as concrete and plastics. The foundation and basement use a specialised system of foam glass and lightweight steel beams, replacing traditional concrete slabs and expanded polystyrene insulation almost entirely.

The restrained architectural expression carries a distinctly contemporary character, articulated through a clear sequence of rooms and functions with deliberate spatial separation. Originally conceived as a single-storey dwelling, the design evolved when the client requested a cool, sheltered bedroom partially embedded below ground — resolving into a natural split-level solution as the house settles into the sloping landscape.

Villa Lerkil uses prefabricated hemp-lime wall elements, making it the largest house in Sweden to date built using this method. The system eliminates the need for gypsum boards and plastic vapour barriers, contributing to a healthier indoor climate with balanced humidity. Hemp-lime's hygroscopic properties let the walls absorb and release moisture, creating thermal stability and a sense of warmth while preventing overheating. Internally the walls are finished with clay plaster, reinforcing the calm and harmonious interior. Villa Lerkil is both a technical exploration and a fully realised architectural work — where sustainable innovation is not experimental in appearance, but embedded in a robust and enduring spatial framework.