Architect and photographer Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects has brought great serenity and excitement into our lives. This of course is due to their creation of the ‘Copenhagen Townhouse II’.
Located in central Copenhagen, Denmark, close to the three lakes that
separate the city center from the outer boroughs, this interior scheme
has made us admire the primary importance that has been given to harmony
& simplicity throughout the interior
From the outside, we
see a traditional brick townhouse with all that Copenhagen offers. Its
four level vertical stretched structure consists of decorative brick
opening window details, which also define its robustness and traditional
character. This is what the clients initially fell in love with,
visualising their interior design contrasts and the relationship between
them. This sense of solidity, darkness and character is
counterbalanced with the sudden purity, lightness and calm that emerge
throughout the interior. The contrast between the cluttered
atmosphere outside and the completely serene refuge from the life of the
city inside the house, make it an extraordinary experience.
The interior which we can only describe as a safe haven, offers true privacy.
This is a residence where you immediately leave everything outside and
are reminded that this is your self-appreciation space. Consisting
primarily of a white palette, everything in this
clutter free environment has been designed to merge into the background.
This pure palette helped of course in challenging the relatively small
ground plan through enlarging the feeling of space whilst integrating
the house’s four levels vertically in order to make it appear less
divided. Much effort was also placed in removing as many visual details
as possible where all the architectural elements and design lighting,
storage, IT, TV, etc. are now an integral part of the architecture. This
left the clients free to choose their few favorite pieces of furniture
and lamps that could be incorporated as much for their sculptural value
as for their function.
Moving around in this residence one can
only describe the feeling as cleansing. We are delighted to see that
there are clients who both dare and demand that their personal style be
custom incorporated in this way. Because when the right architect comes
along to take their ideal and proceed in creating it, then we have the
completion of two circles.
from yatzer