Elding Oscarson floats a green-roofed home above a transparent, glass-clad ground floor

The Swedish town of Mölle is famous for its remote location, scenic harbor—and its somewhat scandalous past as a nude beach hotspot.

Architecture firm Elding Oscarson pays homage to Mölle’s eccentric past with the design of a contemporary Oceanside home that appears to have no inhibitions. While the second floor of the two-story family home is clad in timber, the entire ground floor is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass.

The inspiration behind the House at Mölle’s daring all-glass ground floor was born out of the Elding Oscarson’s and client’s desire to “recover Mölle’s dormant architectural tradition,” which the architects say has been stifled by conservative design. The family home trades the typical gable roof with a flat roof topped with a green roof and was also designed the house with a Y-shaped plan to maximize views towards the Øresund strait. The building was purposefully kept low on the terraced site in order to preserve existing views and a harmonious relationship with the landscape.

The ground floor, clad in low-iron glass and sliding doors, consists of an open-plan living room, library, kitchen, and dining room. The living room is located in the largest wing, while the other rooms (and a bathroom) are placed in the smaller secondary wings. The second, and more private, floor is wrapped in large saw-finish Douglas planks and comprises the private living spaces, including three bedrooms and a centrally located mixed-use space. The site also includes a vegetable garden, terraces, and an underground wine cellar.