Newly built summerhouse blends into its surroundings

The exclusive summerhouse on the shores of Vejle Fjord, Denmark, blends in beautifully with its surroundings with its subdued concrete facades and organic roof. The walls inside are also concrete, yet superior acoustics have been a high priority.

Overlooking the inlet Vejle Fjord, Anita Lybker and her husband have built their new summerhouse, which was completed in June 2021. The original summerhouse on the site dated from 1926, and was the oldest in the area. Unfortunately, it would never have paid to preserve it, and when the couple started drawing up plans for a new house, they contacted the well-known designer Søren Vester.

“As we live in a newish house, we wanted a different look for our holiday home. Initially, I envisaged a small house with tall panels and Swedish wallpapers. But Søren Vester came up with the idea of building the house in concrete as we have a factory that makes concrete elements,” says Anita Lybker. 

The exterior facades have longitudinal grooves to make the concrete resemble wooden boards. The patio and outdoor areas are also cast in concrete, while the interior features raw concrete walls and polished concrete floors.

The summerhouse is 180 square metres in size, which includes the extra guest accommodation in an annexe, comprising three identical rooms and a bathroom beside the main house. The summerhouse is situated right on the shores of Vejle Fjord on a classic summerhouse plot surrounded by rosehip bushes. The idea is to plant lyme grass on the site for a natural, unspoilt look.

Simple materials

In addition to the concrete, a few other materials were carefully selected to ensure a simple look – wood, brass and black Troldtekt acoustic panels. 

Originally, the idea was to build a glass orangery on the side of the house. Instead, it became a conservatory, as it was not possible to build using only glass so close to the water.

“The conservatory can be used in the winter, and we’re thrilled with the final result. The house offers spectacular views, there is no shortage of light, and it has its very own sense of hygge,” says Anita Lybker.

The couple also chose an organic sedum roof with living plants.

“It’s wonderful watching bees and insects buzzing around the roof on a summer’s day. From the outside, it gives the house a completely different appearance – it looks softer and blends in naturally with the surroundings.

Black ceilings for an intimate feel

Anita Lybker says that during the process, Søren Vester stressed that the house should be narrow and elongated – and not too large – in order to create a cosy atmosphere, which is important for a summerhouse. Here, Troldtekt acoustic panels play a crucial role. The couple chose the design solution Troldtekt line in black.

“We trusted Søren, who suggested black, and he has hit the nail on the head as we love the feel of the house. There are lots of hard surfaces, including the panoramic windows, but we don’t notice this at all, as the Troldtekt ceiling guarantees extremely good acoustics,” she says.