An artistic approach to restoration
Sturlasgade Apartment is a striking renovation of a 200m2 apartment in a former factory complex in the neighbourhood of Islandsbrygge in Copenhagen. The project showcases an innovative approach to restoration that still preserves the qualities of the former building yet, through radical bespoke interventions, offers a fresh revival of the interior spaces.
The apartment is focussed on creating an interior landscape of plateaus and surfaces that offer dual functionality with an attention to detail and material connectivity. Seemingly impossible structures levitate throughout the interior space with a delicacy and lightness in construction. The apartment utilises a rich choice of materials creating a strong contrast and meeting between surfaces that cantilever, intercept and interact with one another.
Flexible and multi-functional interventions
The design is intended to open up the interior to form a large open plan space that allows for a principal living, kitchen and dining area. Furniture interventions create a zoning of spaces rather than relying on interior walls to divide spaces. The central feature of the dining space is a long 4.5-metre cantilevered table that seemingly floats across the kitchen and living room area, the table is multi-functional and provides a place for gathering in large groups as well as for preparing food.
Additionally, a series of plateaus create a multi-faceted installation in which surfaces extend to form a staircase, fireplace, and seating. The higher-level stair consisting of lightweight steel construction is suspended from the first-floor level to give the impression of levitation and offers a cleanness of form.
The 1-metre deep interior dividing cupboard forms an entrance to the two bedrooms and creates a dynamic interior façade that can be completely opened to allow for both storage and entry. There is an emphasis on light throughout the apartment with the choice of reflective materials such as polished white terrazzo and glazed coloured tiles.
