KOLON HOUSE, GENTOFTE LAKE — BY NORM ARCHITECTS

Where history, Craftsmanship, and Calm Find Their Balance

On the quiet shores of Gentofte Lake, just north of Copenhagen, a stately family home from 1918 has been given a second life. The house, once steeped in history, has been reimagined by Norm Architects into a retreat for modern living—one that balances the demands of contemporary life with the serenity of timeless design.

For Norm, architecture is not simply about building walls and defining space—it is the framework that shapes how we live and feel. In this project, every decision was guided by an awareness of how materials, light, colors, and scale can nurture calm and well-being. The interiors were designed without compromise, with each element made bespoke, tailored to the house and its context. Rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach, the architects sought compositions that feel inherently connected to the structure itself—solutions that will endure, both functionally and aesthetically.

At the heart of the home, the kitchen demonstrates this philosophy with quiet confidence. Crafted in collaboration with Danish cabinetmakers Kolon, it is a study in balance: a stone countertop that reads as sleek and sculptural, paired with oak and dark-oiled walnut that bring warmth and tactility. Against the backdrop of herringbone floors and generous natural light, the space feels contemporary yet deeply respectful of the home’s original character. It is, in many ways, the essence of the project: pared-back, authentic, and timeless.

Presented by Le Chateau Living

Natural materials define the interior language throughout the house. Wood, stone, and ceramics are not used as decorative accents, but as the building blocks of atmosphere. Each species of wood creates its own sensation—darker tones offer a muted, protective intimacy, while lighter finishes introduce an airy elegance in more open areas. Together, they form a rhythm that shifts as you move through the home, creating a subtle dynamism that is felt rather than overtly seen.

Upstairs, the transformation becomes spatial as much as material. The floor has been reconfigured around a central axis, opening up views that extend across the entire level. Standing in the bedroom, the eye can travel unbroken through the office and children’s room, arriving at the freestanding stone plinth wall that anchors the bathroom at the far end. With ceiling heights lifted and original beams exposed, the sense of volume is maximized, allowing the old house to breathe in three dimensions.

The main living area shows a more delicate intervention. Here, the original chimney is enveloped in a thickened wall, concealing irregularities while creating the opportunity for integrated shelving. Inspired by the Japanese Tokonoma principle, these niches serve as curated stages for cherished objects—turning everyday possessions into a kind of living artwork that animates the space.

The bathroom is conceived as a sanctuary. Walnut cabinetry provides warmth, while a sink carved from purple-grey marble becomes a sculptural centerpiece. Ceramic tiles unify the floor and walls, their texture soft underfoot yet quietly resilient. A freestanding stone wall, clad in the same tiles, divides the space without closing it off—preserving openness while creating moments of privacy. The result is both functional and profoundly calming, a retreat within the retreat.

Taken together, the renovation is not about erasing history or simply layering on modernity. Instead, Kolon House stands as a reinterpretation: a dialogue between past and present, permanence and change. It is an architecture of restraint and warmth, where the craftsmanship of bespoke interiors and the tactility of natural materials create a home that feels deeply human. More than a renovation, it is a poetic reframing of what it means to live well—rooted in history, but wholly attuned to contemporary life.

Location: Gentofte, Denmark
Category: Residential
Year: 2025