VOLA on design film explores the purity of danish summerhouse design

‘there’s a mood in a summerhouse that is really special. it is about the atmosphere, and that is super important to humans. the atmosphere of living. and that’s also as important to danish architecture,’ tells lasse andersson, creative director of the utzon centre, in the short film from VOLA on design: the danish sommerhus – inspiring life. he explains how the summerhouse – or in danish, sommerhus – has become woven into the fabric of danish life. he lists the key attributes of these coastal cottages – nature, materiality and longevity – in their pursuit for a pure design. all these characteristics are shared by VOLA, the danish crafters of iconic taps and accessories.

‘during the 19th century, people moved to the vast coastal areas during summer time, in their small cottage.’ lasse andersson continues to tell, ‘today, we still have the tradition of small houses in close relationship to nature.’ the short film from VOLA on design highlights how the danish summerhouse is more than just a holiday home; it is a place where memories are created, where generations get together to relax, rest and gain perspective on the wider world. this includes the idea of ‘small living’ as the typical cottage encourages the inhabitants to re-evaluate life. this atmospheric essence is accentuated by its proximity to nature and water.

the relationship between these buildings and their landscape is key. amongst a selection of typical summerhouses, the short film from VOLA on design focuses mainly on two modern designs. the first, designed by ARDESS arkitektur and located in skagen, north jutland, sits nestled in sand dunes by the coast, surrounded by reeds and grasses. the second, designed by RUBOW arkitekter and located in west zealand, is a 96m² micro-cabin clad in black-painted timber, separated from the sea by a forest of pine trees. ‘danish architecture is influenced by the site you build on, the materials at hand, the people living there, and the nature surrounding us. that is a perfect combination. that’s the essence of danish architecture,’ confirms andersson.

sustainability has always been ingrained in the danish DNA, and the summerhouse epitomizes this. the small space promotes conscious consumption and the valuing of the simple things in life. that is why they embrace the love of sustainability-sourced, long-lasting natural materials in their build. they also enhance the tradition of craft techniques that go back centuries. ‘summerhouses are also about simple crafting techniques, about traditional techniques that go back in time, like the use of carpentry, about the use of single stone, and also thatching. it has to be a natural material that brings us close to nature as possible,’ adds anderrson.

the celebration of tradition is all in the aim of delivering a pure design – a philosophy VOLA, the makers of the original modern tap, have spent over 50 years preserving, promoting and constantly progressing to meet the modern day. inside the ARDESS arkitektur-designed summerhouse in skagen, its natural warm materials frame the VOLA KV1 kitchen tap in their brushed gold finish. it is just one of the 27 VOLA colors available which derives from the original shades used in arne jacobsen’s design in 1968. this metallic finish is part of their exclusive color series. the timelessness of its finish connects to nature, creates a meditative atmosphere and continually evokes new sensations, as seen in VOLA on design.