![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-2.jpg)
Townhouse in Landskrona by Elding Oscarson
Swedish architects Elding Oscarson have completed a modern house in a street of traditional terraced cottages in Landskrona, Sweden.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-11.jpg)
The house, which is just five metres wide, fills a gap in the street that has been vacant for over 50 years.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-12.jpg)
The interior consists of a single space, divided by three steel floor plates.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-14.jpg)
Photos are by Åke E:son Lindman.
Here's some text from the architects:
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The narrow site is sandwiched between very old neighboring buildings in Landskrona, Sweden. Since mid 20th century it has been empty, waiting behind a wooden fence. It is only 5 meters wide with a tiny area of 75 square meters.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-13.jpg)
Immediately adjacent buildings are low, but the street is lined with buildings of various height, size, facade material, age, and approach. Behind the row of buildings is a colorful world of back yards, brick walls, sheds, and vegetation.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-6.jpg)
We find this small-scale, motely, naturally worn place extremely beautiful.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-4.jpg)
The building relates to the surroundings in scale, proportion and in the way it adds to the established rhythm of low and tall buildings along the street.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-3.jpg)
A perpendicularly inserted crow-step gabled house a few lots down the street is a particularly important ancestor. Yet, our aim is to create a razor sharp contrast, to express inherent clarity, but more importantly to highlight the beauty of the surroundings.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-23.jpg)
Our clients, a male couple that love art and run a café in a bigger city closeby, plan to settle here for good. They see the potential in this small town, beyond its current economic and social problems.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-22.jpg)
Compressed slab construction, unconventional ceiling heights, and the ground floor flush to the street level, permitted fitting three floors into a volume aligned with the neighboring rooftops.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-7.jpg)
The interior consists of a single space, softly partitioned by three exposed steel slabs.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-8.jpg)
These span the entire width of the house and divide its program – kitchen, dining, living, library, bed, bath, and a roof terrace.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-18.gif)
A home office for a growing side business of art dealing is located in a separate building across a small garden in the back.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-15.gif)
Mechanical and service spaces are housed next to a glazed entrance from the street.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-10.gif)
Our intention is to use small means to create an array of different spatial experiences in this very small project.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-17.jpg)
The division of the single space aims at a non-minimalistic and lively sequence of confined and airy spaces, niches, interiors and exteriors, horizontal and vertical views as well as carefully framed views of the site.
![dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-25 dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-25](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-25.jpg)
The continuous interior space is opening up to the street, to the middle of the block, and to the sky above.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-19.jpg)
The openness to all directions generates a building both monolithic and transparent.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-9.jpg)
All facades are treated equally, exposing the interior and offering views through the building with similar apertures whether on the front, back or sides.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-16.jpg)
The neighboring facades are closed, yet there is something deeply humane about their tactility, detailing, and ornaments. We want to contribute to the street with a faded border to the private sphere, with artifacts, furniture, plants, and patios; traces of human presence, consideration, and care.
![](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/01/dzn_Townhouse-in-Landskrona-by-Elding-Oscarson-21.jpg)
Project: Townhouse
Location: Landskrona, Sweden
Architect: Elding Oscarson
Structural Engineer: Konkret
Builder: Skånebygg
Structure: leca-masonry, metal deck slab
Gross Floor Area: 125sqm
Construction Cost: 280,000 Euro
Completion: 2009
Materials/products
Structure: concrete foundation, leca-masonry, metal deck slab
Roof: Moss Sedum vegetation on inverted flat roof system, solid zinc edge detail
Finishing of wall inside and outside: amphisilan plaster coat, silicate paint
Glass and windows: Anodized aluminum sash, low iron glass
Heating system: Heat pump with return air heat recycling, waterborn floor heating throughout
Floors: Steel throwelled concrete topping slab treated with silicate sealant
Solid spruce floor, treated with pigmented lye and natural soap
Stairs and railings: steel, expanded metal mesh
Kitchen Saari/pinjasto