Definitely my favourite project

How does a German architect end up designing holiday homes in Norway?

Anja Thede: That’s a fair question, and the story is a little crazy. We first travelled to Norway in 2024, at a time when we were already looking for somewhere to live in retirement. After running your own practice for so many years, you want to start enjoying life by the time you turn 60 at the latest.

So we took the ferry to Kristiansand and continued along the coast. We fell head over heels in love immediately. It reminded me of the Côte d’Azur in the 1980s. My heart simply said: Anja, this is where you belong!

So you were originally looking for somewhere for yourselves, and the development work came later?

One thing led to another. We absolutely wanted somewhere with a sea view, and that’s how we discovered Sørlandsleia in Southern Norway. It was completely different from how I had always imagined the country. It was bright and warm, and then there was this rocky landscape overlooking the archipelago – incredibly beautiful.

Initially, we simply wanted to invest, and during our summer holiday we bought a 1,000-square-metre plot with rocks, pine trees and a view of the sea. That was the beginning.

What happened next?

We built a house there for ourselves – individually designed and exactly the way we wanted it. Other plots had already been developed with solid prefabricated timber houses.

What stood out, though, was how correct and incredibly friendly the entire process was. A person’s word means something in Norway. Everything was transparent, and some agreements were even made with nothing more than a handshake. I’ve been building for 35 years, but this was definitely my favourite project.

Later, several friends who had enjoyed the dreamlike view from our terrace over a cup of coffee bought plots of their own.

Because everyone was so enthusiastic, the two developers asked me if I would design a house concept for them. That’s how Sea View Cube came about.

How do you explain the strong interest?

Interest in Norway continues to grow – and in terms of climate, this part of the country is fantastic. While other places have experienced extreme heat this year, we enjoyed warm, pleasant temperatures throughout the summer.

You also get something here that you simply don’t get for the same price in comparable locations elsewhere in Europe. None of the properties here with a house cost more than one million euros – and there are considerably more affordable options as well.

Fibre broadband is already in place, making it easy to work efficiently from here. That’s something many prospective buyers notice, whether they are German, Dutch or Austrian. There’s a nice mix of buyers here. The development isn’t inexpensive, but the pricing is still very reasonable.

Many things are more expensive in Norway than in Germany. Isn’t building more expensive too?

No, quite the opposite – because the plots are significantly less expensive than in comparable locations elsewhere in Europe. You get a very good standard at very good prices.

When it comes to materials such as timber, the choice is enormous. With tiles, on the other hand, there is less to choose from. It’s best to avoid too many special requests, because they can be expensive.

Unlike restaurants and shopping, the price-to-quality ratio when building is very good.

So you feel you made the right decision?

Definitely. The feeling of living in harmony with nature is a blessing in itself. Friluftsliv – outdoor life – is, at least in this part of Norway, not just a slogan on a T-shirt (see photo). It’s a way of life.