Writer Dominic Bradbury and photographer Richard Powers have come together to document homes around the world as part of their Iconic House Series From groundbreaking innovations in American residential architecture to the architectural history and heritage of Britain and beyond, Dominic and Richard have witnessed some truly remarkable homes.
Now they return to explore a new region with The Iconic Nordic House. Celebrating Nordic residential architecture from the past 120 years, this collection of forty iconic homes showcases the very best of Scandinavia's innovative architects past and present. These buildings – from Iceland and the Faroe Islands to Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland – sit within landscapes and locations that are among the most beautiful, and extreme, anywhere on Earth.
Ahead of publication, we spoke to Dominic and Richard about The Iconic House series and what it is about Nordic Architecture that they find so alluring.
© 2026 Richard Powers. Dominic Bradbury and Richard Powers outside PAN Cabin Three, Åsnes, Norway
The Iconic Nordic House is the latest in several books looking at homes around the world. You’ve explored homes in the UK, America, and beyond. What was it that drew you to Nordic homes?
Dominic Bradbury (DB): It’s a region that we have long been interested in and we both loved the idea of spending more time in Scandinavia, exploring its architecture and its landscapes. The Iconic books each tell a story about the evolution of residential architecture over time, spanning the last 125 years, and we knew that the Nordic countries offered a rich collection of houses that would take us right through from the early 20th century to now, including Arts & Crafts, early modernism, mid-century modernism and contemporary architecture. We were ultimately convinced that this is deservedly one of the most important and influential parts of the world in terms of architecture, interiors and design.
Richard Powers (RP): There’s a restraint in the architecture: simple forms, limited palettes and a respect for proportion which translates beautifully into images. I was particularly excited to photograph the houses within their landscapes which was the biggest draw for me – I was not disappointed!
There’s a restraint in the architecture: simple forms, limited palettes and a respect for proportion which translates beautifully into images - Richard Powers
Above, left: © 2026 Richard Powers. Skigard Hytte, Mork‑Ulnes, Kvitfjell, Norway / Above, right: © 2026 Richard Powers
Culturally, these countries are very different. Do you see that reflected in the homes you profiled, or are there more similarities than we realise?
DB: There are certainly differences but, yes, there are also similarities. Key themes, or common threads, include respect for the landscape and the natural world, a focus on organic materials and sustainability, while nature also serves as a key source of inspiration for so many Nordic architects and designers. But part of the pleasure of the book for us was also discovering the differences and certainly there are contrasts between a country like Denmark and Iceland or Finland, for example.
Nature also serves as a key source of inspiration for so many Nordic architects and designers - Dominic Bradbury
© 2026 Richard Powers. Manshausen Sea Cabins, 2015. Snorre Stinessen, Manhausen Island, Norway
How would you describe the style of the Nordic home as you experienced it?
DB: Aesthetically, many of the featured houses embrace the idea – or ideal – of warm modernism in one way or another and that can be seen across a spectrum of houses through time and in very different settings. It’s an aesthetic that fuses sophistication and experimentation with a love of natural materials and layered interiors full of texture and textiles, art and playful touches. There is so much character and delight within Nordic homes while the Scandinavian lifestyle, from a love of the outdoors to Nordic cuisine to sauna culture, also has so much to teach us all.
There is so much character and delight within Nordic homes while the Scandinavian lifestyle - Dominic Bradbury
© 2026 Richard Powers. Star Lodge, 2023. Snøhetta, The Bolder, Forsand, Norway
Did any of the homes in The Iconic Nordic House speak to you on a personal level?
DB: I’m a mid-century modern obsessive, as seen in some of my other Thames & Hudson books, so Finn Juhl, Jørn Utzon, Matti Suuronen and others were a big, big treat for me. I also love a good cabin so Snøhetta’s The Bolder and Snorre Stinessen’s Manshausen and some of the others cabins that we visited were also wonderful to see.
RP: They are all special! On a personal level, I have family connections to Denmark, so spending time there felt very natural. I’m always drawn to symmetry in architecture, so the work of Aalto, Utzon and Gunnløgsson was a real pleasure to photograph.
I’m always drawn to symmetry in architecture - Richard Powers
Above, left: © 2026 Richard Powers. Juhl House, 1942. Finn Juhl, Ordrup, Denmark / Above, right: © 2026 Richard Powers. Villa Sagalid, 2018. Sandell Sandberg, Djurö, Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
You’ve collaborated on several books together as writer and photographer. Can you give us some insight into the process of creating these books? Do you travel together or are you experiencing each space separately?
DB: We like to travel together whenever we can and we visited most of the projects seen in The Iconic Nordic House together, usually meeting in an airport and then jumping into a hire car and getting on the road. It’s really useful on so many levels to be at the house at the same time so that we can talk through the shoot, pick out the important elements and discuss the house in detail. The debrief process over a meal and a glass of wine is also very beneficial, talking through the elements of a project that really stood out for both of us, as well as planning the next trip. Certainly, one of the great pleasures of the Iconic books is working closely together and making the most of the experience.
RP: Sometimes the schedule can be quite gruelling with many flights and long car journeys. Travelling up to the Norwegian Arctic Circle to shoot two of the projects for the book was pretty hard‑core travel involving cars, planes and boats large and small, all in double‑digit minus degrees centigrade. That said, we do get a chance to relax sometimes in the evening with discussions about our ongoing and upcoming book projects over a glass or two!
© 2026 Richard Powers. Manshausen Sea Cabins, 2015. Snorre Stinessen, Manhausen Island, Norway
Dominic, what is it you enjoy most about making a study of homes across the world?
DB: It’s great working with Richard and visiting so many wonderful parts of the world together, sharing that experience. Beyond that, I love the diversity of the featured houses and what they tell us about a particular place, the architects and the owners. Curating the projects and the lists of houses is also a big part of the pleasure, making sure that we have a great mix of material with a few surprises along the way. It is a privilege working on these books.
I love the diversity of the featured houses and what they tell us about a particular place, the architects and the owners - Dominic Bradbury
Above, left: © 2026 Richard Powers. Richard Powers outside Fleinvær Refugium in Norway. / Above, right: © 2026 Richard Powers.
Richard, you’ve photographed buildings all over the globe. Is there a particular spot you always love to capture?
Richard Powers (RP): I’ve always been drawn to architecture set within dramatic landscapes, and Iconic Nordic offered no shortage of that combination – it was the perfect photographic playground for me. We also made a conscious decision to shoot in all four seasons. The success of a photoshoot can often be dictated by the weather, and the Nordic countries can be particularly extreme. Shooting in the Arctic Circle was a real highlight: we photographed two projects on two very remote islands in the middle of winter. We were incredibly lucky – each shoot was blessed with a fresh blanket of snow overnight and clear skies during the day. He who dares wins!
The Iconic Nordic House publishes on 26 February and is available for pre‑order now.
You can also discover the other books in Dominic and Richard’s Iconic House series, including The Iconic House , The Iconic American House ,The Iconic British House, and The Iconic Interior .
