Welcome to Beach Week, a celebration of the best place on earth.

In Denmark, summer homes are a way of life for many—and there’s much to be learned from the Danes about coastal living. Take, for example, the summerhouse of Jette Egelund, owner of Danish design brand Vipp, and her partner, conductor Mogens Dahl. It’s a study in embracing and responding to challenging coastal conditions to create a retreat that can be enjoyed all year round.

Sitting at the edge of a dramatic cliff on the west coast of Zealand, the holiday home overlooks the Storebælt, a strait of water between the main islands of Denmark. The couple worked with architect Mads Lund, creative director of Nordic Office of Architecture, to bring their vision to life, and the result is a pavilion-style home that offers a contemporary take on the traditional Danish summerhouse.

Jette and Mogens—who live in an apartment in Copenhagen—spent holidays in the area for three years, in a smaller, older summerhouse, before deciding to build their own home. “From the windows of our old summerhouse we could see this piece of land with a front row to the ocean,” says Jette. “When it went on sale, we immediately knew that this was the location for our getaway from the city.”

Over time, the Canadian cedar cladding will develop a silver patina, and the built form will blend into the landscape." layout="" credit="Photo by Mikkel Mortensen & Emil Stegemejer of Yellows" photoUserId=""/>

They demolished the old home on the site and began a collaborative design process with Lund to create their dream summer home. At its heart, the design responds to the site and its conditions—think extensive glazing that allows for ample sunlight throughout the year, multiple terraces sheltered from the coastal winds, and an orangery where the couple can enjoy the sunset.

The 2,282-square-foot home is inspired by the layout of traditional Danish summerhouses, with three primary elements: a main house, a guest annex, and a utility shed. These spaces each have separate entrances, but they are united beneath the same roof and accessed through a timber-clad walkway. “The architectural vision is a lesson in proportions,” says Lund. “It starts with the roof, under which everything unfolds.”

The main house features a primary bedroom with a glazed wall overlooking the ocean; a second bedroom with bunk beds; a music room with a piano for Mogens; and a spacious, open-plan living/dining/kitchen area.

The self-contained guest annex was just as important to the brief, as it allows the couple to host guests while maintaining privacy. “It’s so much easier to have guests when they have their own space,” says Jette.

And, throughout, large spans of glass define the architecture. “Characteristic of summerhouses is the blend of the indoors and outdoors,” explains Lund. “This feeling is supported by the many glass facades and doors. Only one window is installed in the house—otherwise, doors have been prioritized to create easy passage between the spaces.”

The unglazed areas are clad primarily in Canadian cedar boards, for a twist on the traditional dark timber used to construct Danish summerhouses. The material harmonizes with the lush garden, which was designed in collaboration with the landscape architecture firm Yard. Organically shaped paving stones sit amidst wild grasses and native plants that complement the wild coastal setting.

This raw, natural palette continues inside with furnishings in warm, neutral tones—think beige, gray, and white—that complement the landscape. Unsurprisingly, Jette uses the space to showcase furnishings, lighting, and kitchen and bathroom systems from her own brand, Vipp—alongside richly textured art, family heirlooms, ceramics, and flea market finds.

“I love the whole house, and being able to be in all the different niches. I can sit on the sofa and watch the sun set in the evening, enjoy the little corner with the piano, or be in the garden,” says Jette. “We have made so many good memories here—and I am already preparing for the next party.”

Related Reading:

Vipp’s Newest High-Design Hotel Outpost Is in a Water-Pumping Station

Vipp Owner Jette Egelund’s Copenhagen Loft Crowns a Former Pencil Factory

An Experimental New Hotel Includes a Steel Prefab and a Copenhagen Loft

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Mads Lund, Nordic Office of Architecture / @nordicooa

Builder/General Contractor: Krogstrup Aps

Interior Design: Julie Cloos Mølsgaard / @juliemoelsgaardinterior

Landscape Design: Pia Ingemann Øigaard, Yards Landscape / @yardslandscape

Appears In

Nobody Does a Beach House Quite Like the Danes