Vipp are the minimalist Norwegian experts in the kitchen you’ve always promised yourself. And as you can see from these images, they’ve commissioned a really quite extraordinary showcase for their designs. Beats going to the local out of town shopping park any day, we’d say.
Vipp Cabin Lofoten, as it’s known, is part of True North Lofoten Village, a series of discreet lodgings available as holiday getaways and designed to complement the stunningly rugged surroundings of Norway’s wild coast. Snøhetta Architects are responsible for the masterplan and their founding partner Kjetil Traedal Norsen posits a key question: “How can you add something meaningful without disturbing what already exists?”
Breathtaking solution: what you see here. Reference is partly to simple one-storey fishermen’s cottages traditionally found along the Lofoten shoreline, raised up from the water on wooden poles. Vipp Cabin Lofoten is likewise on legs above the rocks, a deceptively simple wood structure designed to make you feel part of what’s all around. Discreet design is by Logg Arkitekter, who are responsible for the look of all the cabins on the coastline, as part of the larger Snøhetta plan.
Interior, with furnishings and that kitchen from Vipp, is by Cathrine M. Vonholm Edwards, who has used dark, cosseting tones to complement the light, the sea and the mountains through floor to ceiling windows. Bespoke artwork by Magne Furuholmen features on the walls and his wordplay features on a limited edition Vipp pedal bin. Design here is as dense as the outdoors is with luminous nature.
Vipp Cabin: True North Village
What music might you play once ensconced in your Norwegian minimalist hideaway? That may be decided for you, given that True North Village Lofoten is the idea of Mr Furuholmen, now an artist, rather better known as keyboardist and composer for the band A-ha. We’ve no idea how ’Take On Me’ might sound in these surroundings, but we’d be more than happy to experiment.
You might be happiest here just bathing in the conspicuously brilliant interior design and the wonders of the external view. But there are eagle safaris to consider, whale watching if you’re lucky and of course the northern lights. Fishing and skiing are available for the more adventurous. And don’t worry too much about crowds here in the far north, because the whole of True North Village Lofoten, even when fully booked, can only accommodate 20 people at a time. Rush hour is pretty quiet.
Naturally, you’ll be wanting to book your own stay at Vipp Cabin Lofoten, if only to work out what to do with your own long planned kitchen refurbishment. As we’ve said it’s designed as an upscale holiday cabin, so all you’ll need to do is to find the right neutral woollens to complement decor and Norwegian outdoors. And hand over the necessary daily cash: £1,476, minimum booking two nights. Vipp Cabin Lofoten sleeps four, so pick your friends wisely. We’ll chopper in for cocktails, if that’s okay.
