The FRAMA apartment. Niels Strøyer Christophersen, founder of Frama, opened the doors of his apartment in Østerbro Copenhagen during 3 Days of Design. Here Niels gave a tour and talk, explaining his approach to design and how he renovated this apartment. My schedule was tight so I couldn’t stay long to take pictures, so please excuse any strange angles, I was in a rush!
This former watchmakers store on the ground floor of a classic 1905 Danish townhouse was bought in a run down state. The easy option and most common behaviour when moving into a dilapidated apartment is to paint it entirely white and throw a few rugs down, in stereotypical Scandi style. However when an easy design option is assumed, Niels reacted in the opposite way and created his own approach to honour this space.
For some this apartment may appear unfinished and raw but if you look closer there’s thought and detail everywhere. Neutral tones and exposed walls show layers of history that Niels wanted to keep. He has combined this pared back architectural aesthetic with simple furniture either collected, made or restored.
A holistic approach to design and decorating, Niels admits to taking his time and when he felt that the space needed to change, he did just that. I like this slow process, adapting and changing organically. When is a room ever finished?
Playing with space and light. A section for a doorway is cut away revealing the vertical planks of wood and structure of the wall. Sealed on both sides using large panes of glass, preserving the exposed foundations of the wall. This non functional door partition acts to allow light to flow through the rooms and create a depth of space. The mirroring placement of two identical chairs either side of the glass is an artful and playful interior detail.
The moss green finish applied with Stucco, an outdoor render treatment, gives a little texture to the room and the colour refers back to the wallpaper that was originally there.
Art and Sculpture are displayed throughout, minimally style of course, but also allowing the space to be more authentic and true to Niels personal tastes.
The interior architecture is both preserved in some areas and stripped away in others. Note some of the skirting and door mouldings are taken away and replaced with raw concrete. Whereas the original ceiling decoration is painted looking weathered and classic.
The original prototype Frama Studio kitchen has found its home here. Great to know that it is still in use.
I admire this attitude of juxtaposing the classical and brutal styles. This anti-decoration shows appreciation and honour to the layers of history throughout this space. Niels’ apartment isn’t a museum and ode to the past it’s a progressive reaction to design. Appreciating the history, yes, but with strong sense of the contemporary. He has created a home that expresses his values as a creative all while responding on the history of this space and original interior architecture.
A very modern, artistic and holistic approach to design.
This leads me to ask; How do you value the space of which you live in? Does your home express who you are as an individual? Do you follow the crowd or want to create something that is uniquely yours?
H x
Photography © Hannah Trickett/Hannah in the house