Vipp Cold Hawaii

The sandy dunes of the largest national park in Denmark, Thy, are punctuated with old fisherman’s cottages. Along this stretch of coastline is a surfer’s paradise dubbed ‘Cold Hawaii’, where local architect studio Hahn Lavsen has transformed one of these historic early 1900 cottages into a contemporary guesthouse for wave-hunters and slow-living enthusiasts. Opening February 7, 2024, Vipp Cold Hawaii, Thy is the latest in a growing portfolio of bookable guesthouses realised by the Danish design brand.

On a 9900 m² piece of land in Thy National Park, a solitary cottage appears in the horizon of an untamed coastal landscape. Without any neighbours in sight in the tiny town of Vangså, it secluded endless plains of Leymus seem to have no beginning or end. From a distance, the building resembles a classic fisherman’s cottage but when approaching, it becomes clear that the architect studio Hahn Lavsen has designed a modern take on the local architectural vernacular. Rather guests are met by a 185 m² geometric forms and repeating silhouettes revealing a stunning structure that blends seamlessly into the landscape and is striking in its simplicity.

The guesthouse exudes a subtle confidence and robustness designed to withstand the elements. Embracing a bold minimalism, the architecture features a limited material palette, honest expression, and intentional rawness. “Pursuing a palette of only 5 materials, processed as little as possible, was a guiding design principle in the transformation”, explains the architect couple, Caroline Hahn and Ebbe Lavsen, who live only a 30-minute drive away in the small town of Agger.

The material scheme
Walls are built from highly insolating aerated concrete mono blocks, roughly white-washed on both the in- and outside. To withstand the wind, sea, and salt and its high risk of tear and corrosion, the roof is lined with untreated Douglas fir in 100% heartwood. As a nod to the areas original purpose as farmland before a sand surge drove away the farmers and paved the way for a growing fishing industry, classic stable doors in oak are repeated in every room and allows for natural ventilation. Glass walls are another repetitive element and being drawn back deep in the walls these elements go almost unnoticed in the façade. Floors made of exposed brick laid in sand instead of classic mortar pave the way for a refined brutalism and unexpected spatial experience referencing the long stretches of sandy beach peeking through the windows.

“When you step out the door, you step into a national park. The sensation of being in a no-mans-land, almost in a moon-landscape strikes you. Like the unspoiled rawness of nature that embraces you upon arrival, the house greets you with an unvarnished straightforwardness”, says Lavsen.

The interior
Whereas the exterior of the house gains its character from the rawness of its materials, the interior, overseen by interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard, is dotted with furniture and objects high in precision and craftsmanship. A feeling of tactility imparts a sense of delight to the hand and eye, offering a counterpoint to the facade. Involved from the very beginning of the project, Julie Cloos Mølsgaard has transformed the shell into a home.

“I aimed to make the Vipp guesthouse in Cold Hawaii as tranquil and comfortable as possible, creating somewhere guests would want to stay longer and where they could simply relax surrounded by the untamed nature,” says Cloos Mølsgaard.

Like the architects, Julie Cloos Mølsgaard has used a narrow material scheme where wood, metal, glass, stone, and natural woven fibres interweave to create a tailored interior where texture rather than colour creates interest and provides a soothing atmosphere. To underline this reverence for materials, Vipp furniture are mixed with pieces from neighbouring craft shops, vintage finds, and work by local artists.

Shaped around nature… and the kitchen
A well-appointed Vipp V3 kitchen, the company’s newest design, occupies the heart of the living area and unfolds in a large island of 6 units accompanied by a backdrop of customized tall cabinets in oak. The modular V3 kitchen in anodized aluminium features vertically extruded profiles curving around the edges bringing a light elegance to the metallic appearance.

“The landscape is the guiding star and is framed like a giant painting with the glazed gable facing the sea. And centrally positioning Vipp’s V3 metal kitchen as the anchor point in the main space proved vital. It stands almost like an alter from where you can cook to the rhythm of the ocean”, explains Cloos Mølsgaard.

The kitchen is paired with a seating area taking advantage of the views with sofas in the same rich textile upholstery as the Vipp swivel chairs in the dining area. In matching complementary colour nuances, a Vipp pouf and sofa cushions are made in identical upholstery, a curled wool textile. The same principles are repeated in the bedrooms, where curtains, bedspreads, and cushions are made in similar subtle textiles and colourways, to create a sense on serenity, allowing the surrounding natural landscape take centre stage. A built-in custom fireplace in bush-hammered stone is mirrored on both side of the gable that divides the living- and dining area.

Cold Hawaii
Shaped by centuries of sand migration, the Danish national park of Thy on the north-western flank of Denmark’s Jutland-peninsula, is today defined by an area of 55 km long coastlines, sand dunes and heaths, lakes, and plantations. For centuries, the ocean was known as workplace, not a place to play. But recent decades with influx of people and surf enthusiasts have transformed the area from a small fishing community to a modern surf hub that has since 2010 hosted the international championship Cold Hawaii PWA World Cup.

Guesthouse
The two-storey guesthouse with room for up to 8 people has three double bedrooms, two of which include an integrated special-made bunk bed for extra sleeping space, a utility room, two bathrooms, and a combined living area and kitchen.

The closest international airport to Vipp Beach House in Cold Hawaii is in Aalborg (AAL), 90 minutes away by car. international arrivals include direct flights from New York City (EWR), London (STN), Amsterdam (AMS), and of course the Danish capital city Copenhagen (CPH).