Last week I published a round-up of some of my highlights from Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design, and I’ll be back with part two in a few days. But before that, I want to share a venue that I loved (and photographed!) so much that it had to have its own dedicated blog post: the HQ of Vipp, located in an old printing workshop in the waterfront neighbourhood of Islands Brygge.
Owned by the same family since its inception in 1939, Vipp’s first product was a steel pedal bin, created by founder Holger Nielsen for his wife Marie’s hair salon and now considered an icon of Danish design. Nielsen’s daughter Jette Egelund took over the reins in 1992 and, together with her children Kasper and Sofie, has expanded the company’s offering to encompass kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, lighting and accessories. All display the same clean, timeless aesthetic as that original piece, and it’s hard to think of a brand that better exemplifies the successful fusion of form and function.
In recent years Vipp has also opened a series of bookable hotel spaces, including a prefab cabin by a Swedish lake, a farmhouse in southern Denmark and a former water-pumping station in Copenhagen’s up-and-coming Nordhavn district. One of them, the Vipp Loft, sits right above the company’s offices and, after covering its launch in 2018, I couldn’t wait to see it in person when it threw open its doors for the festival.
It certainly didn’t disappoint. Converted by Studio David Thulstrup, the 400sqm apartment is split over two levels, with a vast open-plan living area, a bedroom and a bathroom on one floor, and an office / additional bedroom on the mezzanine above. A black metal spiral staircase and a long bridge-like walkway connect the various sections, while leaving most of the space open to the rafters.
The Loft is furnished with Vipp’s own pieces, and I loved the contrast between the gnarled beams and the sleek lines of the furniture, fixtures and fittings. The matt black fronts of the modular ‘V1’ kitchen units and the angular, low-slung ‘Loft’ sofas work particularly well in the space, and they’re offset beautifully by clusters of stoneware floor vases, sculptural ceramics and leafy plants.
I was also struck by the natural light, which floods in through enormous skylights in the sloping ceiling. It’s enhanced by crisp white walls and stripped wooden floorboards, yet despite the airy openness of the apartment, it still feels cosy thanks to some very clever zoning. The main living space is broken up with shelving units that double as room dividers, while a huge rug and a trio of low-hanging pendant lights define the dining area. There are also thick rust-coloured curtains that can be pulled across to screen off different sections, along with lots of snuggly textures – and, at one end, a pair of sheepskin-covered ‘Lodge’ lounge chairs by a smart contemporary fireplace.
The other part of Vipp’s HQ that was open to explore during 3 Days of Design was the brand-new Vipp Garage – a 1950s car garage that’s been transformed into a cultural and events venue by architects Frank Maali and Gemma Lalanda. They took Islands Brygge’s patchwork of industrial buildings as inspiration and created a moody, hangar-like space with patinated steel walls, a vaulted brick ceiling and a polished concrete floor. At one end, floor-to-ceiling glass looks over a courtyard centred around a Japanese maple tree, illuminating the interior and setting up a wonderful contrast between the dark colours within and the bright white render outside. And on the roof above is a sun-trap terrace complete with a glassed-in kitchen, alfresco sofas and stunning skyline views.
For 3 Days of Design, the Garage housed an installation called ‘The Artful Supper Club’. Created by interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard, it featured a custom-made 5m-wide table cast by concrete masters Pettersen & Hein, together with wavy glassware by artist Alexander Kirkeby. The whole thing was beautiful, and I loved the combination of straight lines and irregular, organic shapes.
The Garage is a stunning addition to Vipp’s ever-growing portfolio, and I can’t wait to see what kind of events it plays host to. As for the Loft, it’s hard to imagine a more special place to stay in Copenhagen. If I ever have the chance to spend a night or two there, I don’t think I’ll want to leave!
You can book a stay at the Vipp Loft here. It sleeps two-four people, and rates start at €1,000 per night.
All photography by Abi Dare
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