Our resident Swede, Izabella Simmons, first came across Leva Kungslador in Visby, Sweden, a few years ago, when the shop/gallery/bakery had just started producing prefab housing. The company, Leva Husfabrik, has since expanded operations, offering prefabs ranging from 270 square feet to multiroom residences over 1,000 square feet. The idea is to offer sustainably produced wood-frame houses for a modern holiday home, affordable permanent residence, artist studio, or versatile backyard office. Good news if you’re in Sweden. As for the rest of us, we’ll have to wait for a Leva-like option to come stateside. Here’s a look (and for more information, visit Leva Husfabrik).
Above: Leva offers a variety of options: Enterprising clients can assemble the home themselves, hire an approved contractor, or purchase full turnkey houses. The building package includes solid wood frames, wood floors, insulation, windows, doors, facade, roofing, roof drainage, interior walls, interior doors, and hardware. Above: The wood used in Leva houses is manufactured with an energy-efficient process and is hygroscopic, which means it minimizes humidity. Above: Leva offers an option of concrete slab flooring. Above: One of the Leva Husfabrik model kitchens featuring towel-bar-like hardware as drawer pulls. For more, see Design Sleuth: Towel Bars as Drawer Pulls. Above: Freestanding woodstoves (see more in 10 Easy Pieces: Freestanding Woodstoves) can be installed with certain models. The living room here is styled with Ikea classics such as the Karlstad Sofa. Above: Bathrooms are designed with utilitarian tiles and classic fixtures. Above: The loft bedroom is designed with beds that partially fit into wall nooks. The closet storage shown here is designed with towel-bar-like pulls, similar to the kitchen hardware. On the bed is a Pia Wallen Cross Blanket and at the foot of the bed is a pair of Glerups felt slippers.
Above: The houses are certified ecological buildings with energy efficiency in mind. Houses come with untreated facades or the option of environmentally friendly finishes such as linseed oil, eco paint, and Organo or Sioo protective coatings. Above: A holiday house in the Swedish forest is possible when working with Leva to create a custom set up. Seen here, two buildings face each other with a deck in between. Above: A Leva house designed with a spacious deck. Above: The solid wood construction is self-supporting; Leva offers a range of roofing options. Above: Doors designed for open-air living in the summer. Above: Minimalist gutters are included with the housing kit.
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