Freja House Features Swedish-Inspired Design by Love Schack Architecture
Freja House, located in Whitefish, Montana, was designed by Love Schack Architecture and completed in 2024. This house, inspired by Scandinavian design, features minimal interiors, a long north-south orientation and an electric sauna, as well as utilising innovations such as energy recovery ventilation to promote energy efficiency.
The Freja house combines aesthetics and energy efficiency
Blake, a mechanical engineer specializing in energy efficiency, envisioned a high-performance home that would serve as a base for outdoor adventures and a lesson in sustainable living for Freja. The project team wanted to achieve Passive House certification, but recognized that full certification would be a challenge due to the limitations of the site. The house’s long north-south orientation makes passive heating difficult in winter, while the significant western exposure increases cooling requirements in summer.
Despite these obstacles, Love Schack Architecture’s project meets passive house standards in terms of airtightness and insulation. Average monthly energy costs for the house come to just $100, covering heating, an electric sauna, electric vehicle charging and ADU energy use.
A hidden sauna highlights thoughtful details
Emma, from Sweden, has influenced the design of the house with simple lines and cabinets that replace traditional closets. A hidden sauna, accessed through the shower, harkens back to Swedish traditions and innovative design. Its ventilation system is connected to an adjacent mechanical cabinet, where a heat pump water heater reuses waste heat from the sauna to heat the house’s domestic hot water. The heat pump also cools the mechanical cabinet, creating a symbiotic design solution.
The interior is minimalist and designed for indoor air quality
Emma and Blake both work from home and wanted a minimalist interior with two dedicated offices and excellent indoor air quality. To achieve this, Love Schack integrated an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system. The family also wanted indoor and outdoor living to be uninterrupted during the summer months. A 1.80-meter-wide, 1.80-meter-high sliding glass door connects the open-plan living room and kitchen to the terrace, garden and backyard, where an outdoor fireplace provides a cozy spot for winter gatherings. This fireplace reconciles Emma’s desire for a chimney with Blake’s preference for a combustion-free home.
Scandinavian architectural influence shapes the exterior
The exterior of Casa Freja also reflects Scandinavian influences, with simple shapes, a pitched roof and prefabricated wood panels treated with järnvitriol, a Swedish technique based on iron sulfate that gives an aged appearance. The panels create a highly insulated, airtight envelope with minimal on-site construction. The house retains a simple rectangular footprint, but the east side of the roof is sloped forward to enhance mountain views and maximize outdoor living space, avoiding unnecessary projections and giving the house a distinct personality.
The versatile ADU meets family needs
The outbuilding, located atop the garage, has a private entrance but can be easily connected to the main space if required. This versatile program offers flexibility to earn extra income, accommodate family members or expand the main house.
Love Schack Architecture chosen for expertise in passive house design
Emma and Blake chose Love Schack Architecture for its expertise in passive house design and in-depth knowledge of best building practices in the local climate. With the completion of Freja House, the family enjoys biking the mountain trails and cross-country skiing before work, knowing they’ll return to a home that stays warm in winter and cool in summer. Freja House represents the combination of Scandinavian heritage and energy-efficient design, offering a welcoming space for family life and minimizing its impact on the environment.
Photography courtesy of Love Schack Architecture
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