Danish design company Vipp began its story in 1939 with the creation of a pedal bin. The current pinnacle of their work is the Vipp Shelter — a small yet supremely functional house in the forest.
The guiding philosophy
"Shelter» translates from English as «shelter» or «refuge», and this name reflects the idea the creators put into the structure. They claim their goal was to design not merely a small cabin, but a dwelling that would allow its occupants to enjoy nature with complete immersion in the surrounding landscape. At the same time, only the bare essentials were to be kept for living, without overloading the space with unnecessary luxury.
Fulfilling its role as a refuge, the Vipp Shelter gives its occupants a roof over their heads so that, sheltered from the elements, they can contemplate nature through vast windows. If desired, these can be opened to let the outdoors in. The essentials are all here: a kitchen, a bed, and a bathroom with a shower — all contained within 55 square metres. Despite its modest size, the cabin never feels cramped. This is partly thanks to two transparent walls that allow natural light to flood in and create a sense of openness, and partly due to the considered interior design.
Interior
Everything inside the cabin was carefully selected by the designers from Vipp's own product range to create a perfectly cohesive space. The entire interior — from the sink to the very last door handle — forms a unified whole, expressing a single philosophy of compactness and functionality. "The shelter is a complete product, inspired by large-scale objects such as aircraft, ferries and submarines, where every individual bolt serves the overall concept," say the designers behind the Vipp Shelter.
A small mezzanine holds a double bed. Lying in it, you can gaze at the stars or watch clouds drift past through the transparent ceiling. A daybed on the ground floor provides an additional sleeping spot for a guest. The kitchen takes up most of the main space. Its worktop is made of metal so it is unaffected by hot pots and pans, and it stands on legs for easier cleaning. In this way, the kitchen becomes a tool rather than a decorative feature.
The bathroom is fitted with a shower and underfloor heating, and its ceiling is clad in stainless steel. A washing machine and tumble dryer are located near the entrance and integrated into built-in storage units.
Technical specifications
The Vipp Shelter is designed to be installed on any terrain, supported by 12 piles. The entire structure weighs 25 tonnes and can be delivered by three trucks to any location the client requires. The Danes know a thing or two about the cold, so the cabin is equipped with a fireplace and underfloor heating. Water for all necessary uses is stored in a 120-litre tank. The walls and ceiling are fitted with fire-resistant insulation.
A final note
The designers at Vipp invite anyone interested to see their creation in person and speak with the lead designer. The tour, however, comes at a cost of €500 per person. The shelter itself, fully furnished, is priced at €580,000 or $585,000, including delivery and installation. You can explore the Vipp Shelter in greater detail in this video:
One further detail worth mentioning is that no one at the Vipp studio is a trained architect, and none of them had previously worked in construction. When developing the shelter, they approached it as they would the design of one of their own products. Seventy-five years of experience working with metal proved an invaluable asset in the process.
If the seclusion and simplicity of this dwelling appeal to you, we suggest exploring a few more projects — for instance, the pristine white The Silver House or a minimalist home in Portugal.
