Vipp Cold Hawaii – a design-led coastal hideaway in Denmark

This month’s round-up of design news included a look at the new ‘V3’ kitchen from Vipp and today I want to share more of the stunning beach house where it was photographed. The latest opening in Vipp’s growing collection of bookable guest accommodation in Scandinavia and beyond, it sits among the dunes of Denmark’s Thy National Park – often dubbed ‘Cold Hawaii’ because of its windswept beaches and vibrant surfing scene.

Once a traditional fisherman’s cottage, the house has been transformed by architecture studio Hahn Lavsen, who used simple geometric forms, repeating silhouettes and a limited material palette to create a modern twist on the local vernacular. Walls are built from highly insulating aerated concrete mono blocks that are whitewashed on both the inside and outside, and the roof is lined with untreated Douglas fir that will weather under exposure to the elements. Swathes of glass offer sweeping views in every direction, and classic stable-style doors give a nod to the area’s original use as farmland before a sand surge reshaped the landscape. The floors, meanwhile, are made of exposed brick and finished with sand rather than mortar, setting up another clever connection with the building’s natural surroundings.

The interiors are the work of long-term Vipp collaborator Julie Cloos Mølsgaard and combine tactile materials such as stone, wood and linen with soothing neutrals that echo rather than compete with the beautiful scenery. These are offset by minimalist metal furniture, lighting and accessories from Vipp’s own range, together with vintage finds and works by local artists.

This wonderful mix is evident as soon as you step into the entrance hall. Here, a striking wall carpet by Rasmus Søndergaard Johanssen is integrated into an oak wardrobe that doubles as a room divider, separating the space from a dining area furnished with Vipp’s marble-topped ‘Cabin’ table and gleaming aluminium-based ‘Swivel’ chair.

A double-sided stone fireplace connects the dining area with the kitchen, where the earthy colours and textures contrast with the extruded aluminium fronts and sleek steel worktop of the ‘V3’ island unit. Beyond this is the main sitting area, finished with soft beige upholstery and pared-back stone tables that allow the landscape outside to take centre stage.

At the other end of the house is a double bedroom with sliding glass doors opening straight onto the dunes. Built-in oak cupboards in the corner provide plenty of storage and are topped by a bunk bed for extra sleeping space when needed. There’s also a ground-floor bathroom – a sophisticated space in brown, white and beige, with a Vipp vanity unit, an exposed wooden ceiling, and custom-made curtains by local textile designer Benthe Boesen that create privacy without blocking natural light.

Under the rafters upstairs are two further double bedrooms, one with a sink area behind a half-height wall that doubles as a headboard. It’s micro-cemented on one side and wood-clad on the other, neatly demarcating the two zones and echoing the finishes used elsewhere in the house. A second bathroom is shared between the two rooms and has something of an art-gallery feel, with a gnarled beam salvaged from the original cottage, a blue and white mask by Thy-based sculptor Thomas Øvlisen, and a playful sea-themed mural hand-painted by renowned artist Frederik Næblerød.

It’s yet another beautiful addition to Vipp’s accommodation portfolio, and a wonderful fusion of nature, architecture and interior design. I look forward to seeing what the brand has in store next!

Find out more about Vipp Cold Hawaii and book a stay here. The house accommodates up to eight people, and rates start at €545 per night.

All photography courtesy of Vipp