Gimme Shelter — A Tiny Self-Built Home in the Swedish Forest Hidden within the unspoiled woodland of *Väddö Island, Sweden**, **Gimme Shelter* is a small self-build home created by Swedish architect **Emelie Holmberg**. Originally conceived as a low-cost personal home, the project explores a different way of living—one shaped by flexibility, nature, and the changing relationship between home and work.
The idea emerged partly from the transformation of working habits brought about by the pandemic. With technology making remote work possible from almost anywhere, Emelie imagined a home that could provide both shelter and freedom while remaining closely connected to the surrounding landscape.
The house consists of two compact structures. The larger 32 m² volume contains the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, while a separate 10 m² cabin provides a private bedroom. Together, the two structures create a small home of only 40 m².
*Gimme Shelter* Architects: gimme shelter solutions Area: 40 m² Year: 2021 Lead Architect: Emelie Holmberg Photographs: James Silverman
Hidden among the quiet woodland of Vedu Island in Sweden, Gimmi Shelter began with a simple
question. What could a home look like when the way we live and work is no longer tied to one place?
For architect Emily Holmberg, the idea became especially relevant during the shift toward
remote work. She imagined a home that was small, affordable, flexible, and closely connected to
nature. The result is a self-built retreat made up of two simple structures, a 32 square meter
building containing the living room, kitchen, and bathroom, and a smaller 10 square meter cabin for
the bedroom. Rather than standing as two closed boxes, both structures are surrounded by verandas
with wide roof overhangs. Their roofs meet in the middle, creating a sheltered outdoor space that
becomes a natural transition between inside and outside. A timber deck extends further into the
forest, making the surrounding woodland feel like another part of the home. Large windows open the
living and sleeping spaces toward the trees, while sliding wooden panels allow the residents to
control sunlight, views, and privacy. These panels are inspired by traditional Swedish barns and cow
sheds. While also reflecting Emily's interest in Japanese architecture and its use of sliding
partitions, the house was not simply designed by Emily. She was deeply involved in building it
herself. She created the drawings and 3D models, financed the project, and worked directly on the
construction. Many details were even developed on site, allowing the design to change whenever the
What began as a personal home eventually became something larger. Emily saw the project as a
prototype for a new way of living, and later developed it into a modular housing system.
Like a Lego set, different prefabricated units can be combined to create homes of different sizes,
while keeping construction more affordable. Gimme Shelter is therefore more than a small
cabin in the woods. It is an experiment in living with less, less space, less complexity,
but more freedom, flexibility, and connection to nature.
