The Danish Concrete Beach House

Photography: Matthew Gormly and Christoph Philadelphia

The emergence of this incredible, modern family holiday home on Denmark’s East coast, has taken 20 years and two architects, yet for the owner it has been a pleasure. “I would love to do it again.” I enjoyed the process so much and I was so happy to see my vision coming to life. It was even more beautiful than I always imagined it to be.”

20 years ago, the family bought an old, narrow, strange house because “We fell in love with the location and the sea view and said that one day we would build a new house here.” Eight years later they drew up their vision and handed it over to an architect to fulfil. Time passed, the architect retired. More time passed, a new architect was found, but the intervening years hadn’t been wasted.

“In the end it was easy to design the house, we’d spent 20 years here already and knew everything about the location: when the sun goes where and where to put what in order to get the most out of it.”

“We always knew we wanted to have a concrete house softened with wooden elements. I always dreamed of the Douglas planks.”

The honesty of concrete and wood throughout, on show, on walls, overhead and underfoot, softens the harsh geometric shapes of the structure, reduces noise levels and ensures the distinction between living room, kitchen and dining room is non-existent.

The architectural style and choice of material was designed and build by the studio Køkkenskabene.The dark kitchen facias house Gaggenau combi-steam oven, and oven in anthracite. The flex induction cooktop is directly served by a powerful canopy extractor, vital for open-plan living, ensuring cooking smells, heat and vapour do not spread through the home.

While Gaggenau’s quality and design were key to the aesthetic of the home, culinary advantages are also enjoyed. “I think the steam oven is my favourite. The way you can prepare veggies and fish. The roasted duck we do for Christmas, everyone loves it.”

The kitchen “feels like the main living room. This is where the life takes place. It’s really the heart of the home.” Passionate about food and much preferring a home cooked meal to being disappointed at a restaurant, the home chef did not want to miss out on the social life. “I never wanted to be alone in my kitchen. That was the main brief. If you have guests – I wanted to be with them. When the kids are watching television I wanted to be with them even though I am preparing food. I love the idea of an open kitchen and that was most important. You are still part of the social life. Someone is having a glass of wine at the kitchen island and having a conversation with you while you are preparing the food.”