"FOR THE LOVE OF AL FRESCO MEALS AND LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES"

SUMMERTIME WITH XIAO HE

To architect Xiao He, the summer months in Sweden unfurl with an unhurried elegance. "The extended daylight hours seemingly stretch the days endlessly," she muses. It's a season that awakens a profound sense of freedom and spontaneity at her beloved summer haven, "Nabben" – a private retreat Xiao designed for her private use. Nestled amidst the marshy landscape, Nabben's design seamlessly blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. With surrounding terraces, lowered window thresholds, and sliding glass walls, the transition from interior to exterior unfolds seamlessly. "I envisioned it bridging the divide," Xiao explains. "Facilitating the effortless transfer of carpets, cushions, life between the two realms."

It's in these thoughtfully cultivated outdoor spaces that Nabben's true magic is realised. Like the spacious dining area between the main house and guest quarters - "Spacious enough for 30, yet intimate enough to feel like an extended dining room under the open sky." Whether celebrating Midsummer or simply savouring a meal al fresco, these areas foster an unparalleled communion with nature. "A truly exceptional house should enhance the natural beauty of its surroundings," Xiao describes. Her preference for materials like wood underscores this ethos.

For the He family, summer at Nabben celebrates life's simple pleasures. Mornings beckon with no schedule. Afternoons brim with adventures - beach trips, refreshing dips in the wood-fired bathtub on the terrace, and culinary experiments like grilled strawberries with whiskey.
As dusk falls, they gather by the forest glade fireplace or grill, sharing unhurried conversation as nature's nighttime visitors including roe deer, moose, foxes, boar and hares emerge.
Two Between Lines Deck Chairs grace Nabben's terrace, a touch of elegant craft amid the rugged splendor. "They invite us to create special moments, whether watching the sunrise or making memories with loved ones," says Xiao. Embodying the principles of both Nordic and Chinese design they represent her worlds in harmonious coexistence. “Both traditions share a reverence for craftsmanship and a commitment to creating spaces that evoke a sense of serenity and connection with the surroundings.”
 

For the He family, the love of leisurely summer living finds its expression at Nabben. A celebration of nature's simple beauties - the joys of togetherness, the pleasures of an unhurried day, and the seamless synergy of architecture and environment.

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