Aluminium that can stand up to Mother Nature
The weather in this part of Norway is tough. These aluminium window frames are tougher.
Off the coast in a remote part of Norway is the island of Sandøya. It is here that architect Tone Sandøy has created a modern and stylish holiday home, perfectly adapted to the surrounding terrain – and the climate – with a little help from aluminium from Sapa by Hydro.
Tone's father was born and raised on the island, and Tone and her sister have been vacationing here since childhood. Now the new cottage on their childhood island has become the main family gathering point across generations.
The result is a holiday home of just over 200m2. The solution has been so successful that Tone's father, who is also the builder, visits Sandøya as often as he can from his home in Molde, on the mainland.
“Weather is the biggest theme out here. There is a lot of weather, and tough weather. This has guided the entire solution when it comes to space and materials,” Tone explains.
She has used large window areas to let in the view and daylight, without compromising on warmth.
Stunning views
Tone worked for a long time to find the right window solution. The challenge of shaping the facades was to find the right balance between expression and composition in the exterior, and the inside of daylight in the right places and framing the desired outlook. To achieve large open glass surfaces, with minimalist profiles, aluminum extrusions from Sapa by Hydro were selected.
The possibility of large window surfaces delivered with tailor-made seams and materials that can withstand the harsh weather conditions, with a lot of wind, rain and salt water, helped to meet both the aesthetic and functional requirements.
(Video: Matias Myklebust / Ranglefant)
The sleek dark aluminum windows serve as a tough and good contrast to both interior and exterior trim. The facades have a mix of exposed concrete and the brick tile – robust materials chosen to fit into the surrounding landscape. The brick tile has a slightly jagged, uneven surface, and the large aluminum-framed windows have a firming effect on the rough coating. Inside, the walls are clad with a light and elegant poplar veneer, the floors covered with large-format tile.
“It's about getting a good whole. Robust materials have been very important to withstand a great deal – the weather and of us who will use the place,” she says.
“Therefore, we chose tile floors that can withstand dirty boots running in and out, bricks that will last for hundreds of years and aluminum windows that we know should withstand the climate and give us no worries.”
And of course, one fine day, the aluminium window frames will be ready to be recycled and used again.
