Vipp Chimney House Copenhagen by Studio David Thulstrup

In the latest installation of Vipp bringing their brand to life through immersive living spaces, Studio David Thulstrup has completed Chimney House, a transformation of a heritage-listed former water pumping station. Bold, contemporary extensions honour the original structure, the name derived from its distinctive 35m high minaret added to the 1902 building in 1928 and restored during the yearlong project.

A steel upper level was added, following the gabled roofline of the original brick building and acting as a modern counterpoint. Existing arch windows were extended to ground level, becoming steel framed glass doors.

A bold geometric, U-shaped staircase divides the living and dining areas in the open-plan space. Clad in extruded aluminium panelling, the staircase echoes the façade of the Vipp Shelter, a retreat in Sweden. The top landing is entirely black, naturally lit from above by a large skylight, with a view up the neck of the chimney.

Related: Vipp Shelter in Sweden.

“The new volume housing a bathroom is set off the wall and there’s a shadow gap where the terrazzo flooring stops. The pitch of the original roof is highlighted by a strong line and material change identifying the extension. The existing façade walls are treated with a warm grey render so you sense the brick. This approach to the detailing honours the character of the building and delineates the new work,” says David Thulstrup.

The pitched roof of the modern extension is left exposed, accentuated by three 5m custom pendant lamps made from stacked Perspex discs. They hang above a dining table of birch burl veneer custom designed by Thulstrup. Other custom pieces include a high-gloss coffee table, brushed aluminium sideboard, bedheads and plinths.

Thulstrup sought to showcase Vipp’s kitchen and bathroom elements and accessories. A custom-developed cast terrazzo floor ties together all the ground floor spaces and continues out to a new terrace reached through large sliding glass doors. Large slabs of the warm grey terrazzo line the bathrooms.

Two bedrooms face each other on an L-shaped mezzanine, glass panel forming the atrium walls. “You can see from one bedroom to the other and there’s an exchange of natural light. It’s provocative in a way, and an architectural suggestion about flexible modern living where people can control their own levels of privacy,” says Thulstrup.

Landscaping by Yards Landscape features a low maintenance evergreen garden of grasses and pines enclosing the terraced outdoor dining area. Thulstrup and his team designed the outdoor lighting to celebrate the chimney height, providing a landmark for the local area.

The Chimney House is the third outpost of Vipp Hotel, each space available for short-term stays that show the evolution of the iconic Danish brand.

See more projects by Studio David Thulstrup on Yellowtrace here.