Vipp Cold Hawaii: A Geometric Guesthouse Embracing Contrast

A geometric guesthouse stands proudly amidst the picturesque dunes surrounding Thy National Park in Denmark. Designed by architecture studio Hahn Lavsen, the Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse offers a unique and contrasting experience in this popular surf spot, also known as Cold Hawaii due to its wind conditions.

Departing from the traditional approach of blending into the landscape, Hahn Lavsen sought to create a dialogue between the building and its surroundings. The sharp geometry of the guesthouse beautifully contrasts with the soft sand dunes, creating a harmonious relationship between human-made structure and the natural environment.

Accessed via a winding path through the undulating dunes, the guesthouse is enclosed by white-washed walls connected by inset glazing. The exterior features a steeply pitched roof clad in Douglas fir battens and punctured by two chimneys, dividing the interior into three distinct sections.

Inside, the main rooms are arranged in open spaces around these characteristic chimneys, seamlessly integrating functional elements such as staircases, fireplaces, bathrooms, and ventilation features into the thick walls. The design’s focal point is the kitchen area, featuring an anodised-aluminium island and built-in oak cupboards, connected to a spacious dining area.

The ground-floor spaces are adorned with large windows and floor-to-ceiling glazing, offering abundant natural light and breathtaking views. Upstairs, the guesthouse provides three cozy double bedrooms, including a loft bed raised on a set of oak cupboards.

Hahn Lavsen’s design approach for the Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse highlights a combination of heaviness, mass, and robustness, blending with the floating open spaces of a lightweight glass house. The minimal material palette, including timber, bricks, and white-washed interior walls made from concrete blocks, pays homage to the local vernacular.

Stepping into this impressive guesthouse, visitors are captivated by the rawness and untouched beauty of the surrounding national park. As studio co-founder Ebbe Lavsen stated, “The sensation of being in a no-man’s-land, almost in a moon-landscape strikes you.” Natural ventilation is facilitated through classic stable doors in oak, providing a nod to the area’s agricultural history.

The Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse showcases the power of contrast, where contemporary geometry harmoniously coexists with the untamed beauty of nature. It serves as a testament to Hahn Lavsen’s vision and the Danish tradition of embracing design that engages with its surroundings, creating a truly remarkable guest experience.

An FAQ section based on the main topics and information presented in the article:

Q: What is the Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse?
A: The Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse is a unique geometric guesthouse located in Thy National Park in Denmark.

Q: Who designed the Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse?
A: The guesthouse was designed by architecture studio Hahn Lavsen.

Q: What is the significance of the name “Cold Hawaii”?
A: “Cold Hawaii” is the nickname given to this surf spot in Denmark due to its wind conditions.

Q: How does the guesthouse contrast with its surroundings?
A: The sharp geometric design of the guesthouse contrasts with the soft sand dunes, creating a harmonious relationship between the human-made structure and the natural environment.

Q: What materials were used in the construction of the guesthouse?
A: The guesthouse features white-washed walls, Douglas fir battens for the roof, timber, bricks, and white-washed interior walls made from concrete blocks.

Q: How is the interior of the guesthouse designed?
A: The interior is arranged in open spaces around characteristic chimneys, seamlessly integrating functional elements such as stairs, fireplaces, bathrooms, and ventilation features into the thick walls.

Q: What amenities are available in the guesthouse?
A: The guesthouse includes a kitchen area with an anodised-aluminium island and built-in oak cupboards, a spacious dining area, and three cozy double bedrooms.

Q: What is the overall design approach of Hahn Lavsen for the guesthouse?
A: Hahn Lavsen’s design approach combines heaviness, mass, and robustness with the floating open spaces of a lightweight glass house.

Q: How does the guesthouse embrace its surroundings?
A: The guesthouse pays homage to the local vernacular with its minimal material palette and facilitates natural ventilation through classic stable doors in oak.

Q: What is the overall experience of staying in the guesthouse?
A: Staying in the Vipp Cold Hawaii guesthouse offers a unique and captivating experience, allowing visitors to appreciate the rawness and untouched beauty of the surrounding national park.

Definitions for key terms or jargon used within the article:

Thy National Park: A national park located in Denmark known for its picturesque dunes and surfing opportunities.

Cold Hawaii: A nickname for a surf spot in Denmark that is known for its windy conditions.

Geometry: The branch of mathematics dealing with the properties and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids.

Dialogu: A conversational exchange between two or more people, or in this case, between a building and its surroundings.

Heaviness: A term used to describe the visual and tactile weight of a structure or material.

Mass: The amount of matter in a structure, often associated with the perception of solidity and bulkiness.

Robustness: The characteristic of being strong and sturdy, able to withstand external forces.

Venacular: The local style or customs of a particular region or group of people.

Natural ventilation: The process of fresh air flowing into an enclosed space through openings, such as windows or doors, without the use of mechanical systems.

Stable doors: Doors that are divided horizontally, allowing the top half to be open while the bottom half remains closed.

Suggested related links:
Hahn Lavsen Website
Vipp Website