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Fredensborg House by NORM Architects

The aesthetic of minimalism is further accentuated when purposefully contrasted with opposing elements. In the case of Fredensborg House, designed by NORM Architects, the exterior facade is characterized by patterns and rhythmic overlaps, which are not minimal in any sense of the word. However, when the focus is turned inward on the interior, the house becomes a capacious scene, a harmoniously clean space that welcomes one the second he/she enters the central hall of the house. The contrast is drastic and sudden.

NORM Architects consists of the design-duo Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Kasper Rønn. They both went to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. NORM was founded in 2008 as a multidisciplinary design studio focusing on residential architecture, commercial interiors and industrial design.

The large size of the property is not immediately noticed until one walks through the east side of the house towards the main entrance. The kitchen is centrally located to provide a more efficient workflow when preparing food and serving guests. The kitchen is partly hidden to disguise the clutter from guests. The lowest plateau of the house finds its way through three different areas of the house consisting of the living area, master bedroom, and dining area.

The lighting of this house is very strategic, and there is a breathtaking 18 meter stretch of vertical windows that connect the east and west axis of the house. The other viewpoint of the house is the facade of the garden, which is made completely of glass.

The architects explain “One of the main goals for this house is to provide a feeling of serenity and calm. To achieve this goal, the use of different contrasting materials was minimized. And to suit the elements of the buildings surroundings and staying true to its natural form, a lot of local materials were used.”

Leo Lei translates his passion for minimalism into his daily-updated blog Leibal. In addition, you can find uniquely designed minimalist objects and furniture at the Leibal Store.