Butterfly effect: the making of Glenn Sestig Architects, Dinesen and Ocular ApS’ ’Barony’ Bar
What do an Asian species of butterfly, a title of honour and a bar have in common? More than you might think, according to Glenn Sestig. And the playful ‘Barony’ bar, made out of Dinesen timber, vibrantly tinted using organic linseed oils, is his case-in-point.
We asked the Belgian architect to collaborate with Danish flooring company Dinesen and skilled carpenters Ocular to design one of our exhibition centrepieces; a striking but service friendly bar. His response was to produce something fun and eye-catching that also feels substantial and regal; beautiful but functional; sturdy but with the appearance of lightness.
‘The bar is a composition of vertical and horizontal volumes,’ says Sestig. The double-column effect created by the rear tall cabinets and the powerful symmetry make for a particularly impactful design. ‘It is inspired by Brutalist architecture, but still elegant. The Blue Baron butterfly offered inspiration. It’s beautiful to look at, but also still needs to fly. When opening its wings, it becomes something completely different.’
The butterfly concept guided the design’s colourway, which uses hues by Danish pigment manufacturer Linolie, including Violet and Dusty Black. Violet was also chosen because it traditionally represents nobility, another nod to the project’s name. Colour is not something that Dinesen has been particularly known for until now. The Danish brand’s signature product is the long, wide, pale planks that line some of the world’s finest floors, and this is not about to change. But Dinesen has been quietly working on treating its wood with linseed oils so it can now add colour to the mix.
‘Linseed oil is a natural product, it is environmentally friendly and has great durability,’ says Thomas Dinesen, the firm’s fourth generation CEO. ‘Fundamentally, it makes sense to use it on a Dinesen plank that carries the same natural values.’ This can now be applied to any Dinesen wood, adding a twist to the classic and offering one more option to the company roaster.
Ocular masterfully assembled the piece. Set up in Denmark in 2006 by Martin Meyer Nielsen, with Lars Klitgaard Hansen joining in 2012, the Copenhagen-based firm is dedicated to timber craftsmanship and high quality wood manufacturing methods. The team used Dinesen’s Douglas Classic for the body of ‘The Barony’, and Festool’s Domino connectors for corner solutions, and for assembling and disassembling it when it needed to move. Extra details that add lightness and sophistication include a mirror by Forserum Safety Glass AB and hinges by Simonswerk.
Time was a key challenge, as was translating floorboards into bespoke joinery. Dinesen’s consistent top quality, along with excellent communication across the team provided the solution to both. ‘We had a really positive and mutually beneficial dialogue with Glenn Sestig,’ recalls Nielsen. ‘So interpreting the design into buildable elements was not that difficult.’
His collaborators agree. Says Dinesen, ‘The bar is a very fine example of how the joined forces of a visionary architect like Glenn Sestig, skilled craftsmen from Ocular, dedicated colour experts from Linolie, and an understanding of wood inherited through generations of the Dinesen family, result in a remarkable creative outcome, displayed in the most inspiring and innovative setting at Wallpaper* Handmade’.
As originally featured in the August 2016 Issue of Wallpaper* (W*209)
See more from Handmade here and check in to Hotel Wallpaper*…
Martin Meyer Nielsen with senior joiner Angus Chisholm, in the Ocular workshop in Copenhagen, planing Dinesen timber for the ’Barony’ bar. Photography: Richard Gaston
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Glenn Sestig Architects website, the Dinesen website, and the Ocular website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director 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), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Fuseproject has given form to Kind Humanoid, an AI-driven bipedal robot that wants to help
Human assistance robot Kind Humanoid steps out for the first time, shaped by Yves Béhar and Fuseproject and powered by AI, with a friendly face and mechanised limbs that can perform a variety of physical tasks
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
‘Fashion or art? It doesn’t have to be one or the other’: 16Arlington’s Marco Capaldo on turning curator for new London show
A deeply felt musing on the idea of memory, 16Arlington creative director Marco Capaldo unites with Almine Rech for an exhibition at Frieze No.9 Cork Street which features artists from Andy Warhol and John Giorno to rising stars Rhea Dillon, George Rouy and Jesse Pollock
By Mary Cleary Published
-
Take a deep dive into Norway's art scene with the Lofoten International Art Festival
Kite tails, lingonberries and woven islands: the Lofoten International Art Festival unveils its 18th edition
By Louise Long Published
-
La Réserve, Knokke’s grand dame of hospitality, is back with a bang
La Réserve in Knokke launches its luxurious redesign by Glenn Sestig, bringing the iconic Belgian hotel icon into the 21st century
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Runway project: the making of Alfredo Häberli and Cerruti 1881's jumpsuit
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Hole in one: the making of Studio JinSik Kim, Cuellar, Bolon and Anun's ‘One Point’ minigolf
By Ali Morris Last updated
-
Servant class: the making of David Chipperfield Architects, E15 and AHEC’s ‘Butler’ stand
By Jonathan Bell Last updated
-
Lock stock: the making of Karl Zahn and The Nanz Company’s Hotel Wallpaper* keys
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Curve appeal: the making of Wonmin Park and Testi’s Hotel Wallpaper* reception desk
By Paul McCann Last updated
-
Clean lines: the making of Pelle and ER Butler & Co's ‘Rock Garden’ soap set and tray
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Frame work: the making of KBH and Dedar’s sofa
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated