Danish brand Vipp may be best known for a pedal bin designed in 1939, but they can also put their name to modular kitchen and bathroom design, lighting, furniture manufacture, prefabricated architecture, supper clubs, unique hotel stays and more. I don’t think I can think of any other design brand that has such a broad portfolio and executes it all so well; each project a perfect distillation of their clean, functional aesthetic and timeless, modern ethos.
Today, Vipp is still an independent, family-owned company, run by the founder Holger Nielsen’s daughter, Jette Egelund, and her two children Kasper and Sofie, together with 45 employees based in Copenhagen.
For 3 Days of Design – Copenhagen’s annual design festival – in June, the brand welcomed design lovers into the architectural world of Vipp. They opened up their HQ in Copenhagen’s Islands Brygge area to visitors, allowing a unique insight into the Vipp Garage, a new cultural destination for the company; and the Vipp Loft, a stunning one-room-hotel like no other that can be rented out by guests.
Walking through the gates into an enclave of white washed buildings set around a communal courtyard, you were instantly transported into a calm, considered setting that felt a mile a way from the buzz of the festival in the city centre. With classical music being played from a grand piano, it was like stepping into another world – a Disneyland for grown ups who take design very seriously.
Photography: Cate St Hill
Vipp Loft, Copenhagen
Offering a chance to experience Vipp products first hand, Vipp has a portfolio of five conceptual hotel spaces set across various destinations. From a prefabricated shelter next to a lake in Sweden to a quaint, thatched, 18th century farmhouse in the Danish countryside, Vipp offers architectural experiences that are a little out of the ordinary.
One of these unique stays is the Vipp Loft – housed above Vipp’s office, in the roof of an old printing factory in Copenhagen. The generous 400 sq m space was transformed by Studio David Thulstrup to create a light-filled, holistic home environment. Rustic wooden beams lend character to the space, while Vipp’s famous modular black kitchen gives a contemporary focal point.
It would make the ultimate retreat for a special occasion or those looking to flex their culinary skills in the kitchen.
Naturally, the Vipp loft is furnished with Vipp furniture. The loft offers plenty of cosy corners to relax in, whether it’s on their comfy Vipp sofa or lounging back in an armchair by the warmth of a fire. The feel is one of understated luxury – everything is beautifully finished and effortlessly elegant in style. There’s champagne in the fridge and Aesop in the bathrooms.
The vast space encompasses not only an open plan kitchen/living area and a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, but also a mezzanine level with another bedroom and cosy library/office space. If you need a bit of fresh air, there’s three small outdoor terraces too. I think you’ll agree – a truly stunning home away from home.
The Vipp Loft sleeps up to four people and stays start at €1,000 a night – book here.
Vipp Garage
Vipp Garage is Vipp’s newest offering. Architects Frank Maali & Gemma Lalanda have transformed a mid-century garage next to the Vipp office into a cultural destination that will host supper clubs and events for the brand.
Two years in the making, Maali and Leland were inspired by the setting of Islands Brygge and the patchwork of industrial buildings that define the area.
The hangar-like space features a rich palette of raw materials. Dark, patinated steel walls are paired with polished black concrete floors to give tactility to the lofty architecture. Impressive vaulted brick ceilings by Randers Tegl pay homage to the city of Randers where founder Holger Nielsen started Vipp. And at one end of the space there is a small outdoor courtyard framing a sculptural Japanese maple tree.
Vipp Garage opened at 3 Days of Design with an art installation by interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard. The centrepiece was a five-metre-wide, custom-made table created by concrete masters Pettersen & Hein. The table was set with glassware by artist Alexander Kirkeby and an array of bespoke Vipp chairs.
Venture up onto the terrace above the Vipp Shelter and you’re greeted by a small rooftop building with Vipp kitchen. Offering a view over Copenhagen’s skyline and harbour, it was the most magical place to see out the festival.
I hope you’ve enjoyed all my captures from the world of Vipp – it was such a unique opportunity to get a peek inside their stunning spaces!
