The Danish Country House

Præstø

GOAL no. 11, 12, 15

The Danish Country House is the transformation of an abandoned house in the country into a family home. The project breathes new life into a building type that needs to redefine its purpose.

The number of vacant buildings in the Danish countryside is growing. According to estimates, rural districts have some 10,000–22,000 vacant houses suitable for year-round occupancy, and with urbanization expected to continue, this number will surely rise. Many of these buildings are found in scenic locations which means they have potential as second homes for city dwellers.

In the rolling hills on the Jungshoved peninsula lies The Danish Country House. The building has an apple orchard on the one side and a string of small lakes on the other. From outside, the whitewashed exterior and umber green roof profile subtly reinterprets regional barns – an architectural reinterpretation of rural architecture made possible by new legislation as part of a national effort to convert vacant rural buildings into holiday homes.

The building, which began as a brick-built fruit barn, is now divided into different ‘climate zones’: The renovated ground level is unheated and is mainly used in summer as a workshop or a place to gather family and friends. It features exposed, whitewashed brick walls and concrete floors, resulting in a rough, unpolished expression. In addition, a new heated roof construction serves as the year-round living quarters and offers views of the surrounding landscape.

By reusing the main components of the building, the project has minimized construction waste. Timber is the primary material throughout, with paper wool and wood fibre used for insulation. The actual construction was done without a vapour barrier.

This project shows that it is worthwhile reusing existing buildings, even if they appear suitable for demolition. They can be architecturally transformed and revived as new, attractive holiday homes that contribute to local life and economy.

Project details

Where: Roneklintvej 7, 4720 Præstø

Completed: 2020

Client: Private

Architects and advisors: NORRØN, Regnestuen (engineer) and KØ Entreprise (contractor).