Vipp Garage
THE GATES ARE OPEN TO A MID-CENTURY GARAGE IN COPENHAGEN TURNS CULTURAL CATALYST FOR VIPP
Vipp Garage in Copenhagen’s Islands Brygge area is the newest member in Vipp’s portfolio of design experiences which has been growing steadily for the past seven years and now counts five hotel destinations and a supper club in addition to Vipp Garage. Architects Frank Maali & Gemma Lalanda have transformed the mid-century garage into a new cultural destination for Vipp.
'Vipp was founded in my grandfather’s metal workshop. And now we open a garage. Here, we park our wildest dreams about design, architecture, food, art, and music.'
ARCHITECTURE
Gemma Lalanda & Frank Maali
The former auto garage from the 1950s has been two years in the making, thought out and executed by architects Frank Maali and Gemma Lalanda. The location of Islands Brygge, an old working-class neighbourhood with a ‘patchwork’ of industrial buildings served as a source of inspiration for the architects.
Light court
We chose to pull the building towards the north to make space for a small outdoor courtyard. In that way, natural light is funneled into the space through floor to ceiling glass walls that can open towards the light court. The original southern wall is kept intact and is supported by buttresses that also act as sculptural elements, and the original chimney acts as a built-in fireplace. To complete the small outdoor haven, a Japanese maple is planted to adorn the space and to emphasize the magic of Vipp Garage.
Brick and steel
Inside, vaulted brick ceilings by Randers Tegl are an homage to Holger Nielsen, who founded Vipp in 1939 in the city of Randers. The impressive 4.5 m height brick ceiling adds warmth and tactility to a nuanced space defined by concrete, steel, and iron. The floors are made of polished black concrete pebbles, while the walls are dressed in patinated dark steel plates that dance at different rhythms as sunlight moves through the space.
'The result is a playful, new structure of stacked blocks that pop up and vary in scale – like bursting buds on a tree that frame the inside of the garage with its 4.5 m high vaulted brick ceiling and “pulpit” staircase that add a sacral feeling.'
Cherry on top
A cherry on top – almost literally – is the rooftop terrace with a little “greenhouse” boasting a Vipp kitchen with views to Copenhagen’s skyline and harbour.
Artful Supper Club
Vipp Garage opens with an art installation reimagining the artful dining table curated by interior designer, Julie Cloos Mølsgaard with help from concrete masters Pettersen & Hein and glass artist Alexander Kirkeby. With 24 custom Vipp chairs around the five meters wide-ranging round table, Vipp celebrated the Danish 3daysofdesign festival with an intimate supper club with renowned chef Christian Puglisi steering the Vipp kitchen.
