Hasseris House was designed to flaunt its minimalist lines

This brick and glass house in Aalborg is the result of a collabration between Danish architect Lars Gitz and the owner, businessman Henrik Klindt Petersen.

(Image credit: Dinesen)

By Ellie Stathaki

last updated 3 October 2022

Danish architect Lars Gitz is better known for his pristine, brilliant white volumes, so this new built house in Aalborg for businessman Henrik Klindt Petersen and his daughter is somewhat of a departure from his signature style; yet Hasseris House is all the more special for it.

Petersen collaborated closely with Gitz in creating a low and elegant, tactile brick composition that features large expanses of glass and carefully crafted openings that frame both the views out and the owner’s passion – his cars, a Porsche and an original 1976 vintage Jaguar. It is also the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the seasons through the large windows towards the rich garden – another of the owner’s specific requests.

Sitting in a part of town made up largely of traditional housing, this design is a meticulous balance of private and public, transparent and opaque parts. And the team certainly hit the right note, as the design swam through the planning process, winning the Municipality of Aalborg’s prize for architecture along the way.

The owner seems more than happy. ‘I am very satisfied with the result and I like how the house is cautious, closed and almost a little shy in its expression towards the road, while the appearance from the garden side with the beautiful glass fronts is much more magnificent, tall and proud’, he says.

Inside, Hasseris House is an expert mix of minimalism and hygge. In fact, the house’s smooth Dinesen (opens in new tab) flooring was specifically chosen for this reason. ‘I decided to go with Dinesen Oak for this house to add some warmth and coziness – or ‘hygge’ as we call it in Denmark’, explains Petersen. ‘It has been very essential for me not to create an all white house, since the volume of the house is so big.’

The interiors were largely decorated by Petersen himself, who is passionate about design and travel and takes inspiration from the fine hotels and restaurants he encounters in his trips. He is also an art collector who enjoys showcasing his newly acquired pieces in his home. So, the interior features modern Danish art next to Kvadrat (opens in new tab) fabrics, a bespoke Minotti (opens in new tab) sofa and a custom made kitchen by Ove Skou.

Going the extra mile to create something beautiful and unique was just what one might expect from this enterprising team, who went on to use Dinesen Oak for several of the house’s built in furniture too, such as the wine room shelving and the bedrooms’ headboards.

The design includes a special place for the owner's beloved cars; a Porsche and an original 1976 vintage Jaguar.

Inside, the house is bright and clean, featuring tall ceilings and smooth Dinesen Oak floors.

Petersen himself looked after the decoration and furnishing, which is a mix of bespoke elements, international designs and pieces from his growing art collection.

The Dinesen Oak floors add a note of Danish 'hygge' to the house, offsetting its large scale.

This is Gitz's first commission in brick – a departure from the architect's usual use of bright, white volumes.

INFORMATION

For more information visit the Lars Gitz Architects website (opens in new tab)

TOPICS

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).