Interior design inspired by water

Boasting a long list of affiliated businesses, DTU Science Park in Hørsholm is Denmark’s leading growth and development environment. DHI is one of the businesses that has been part of DTU Science Park for the past 50 years.

Photo: Helene Høyer Mikkelsen

ARCnordic, a firm of architects and engineers, has headed up the project to renovate and modernise DHI’s former premises following the company’s move to a new domicile in DTU Science Park. The brief for the project was to create attractive facilities for future tenants in the old farm. One of the areas is a wing with different-sized meeting rooms with kitchenettes and lounge areas.

The history of the building presented some challenges, which have been transformed into a charming architectural expression. The interior is characterised by a graphic style with white walls and black frames in the glass sections delineating the meeting rooms. The contrasts have been softened by light blue curtains, upholstered furniture in the meeting rooms and warm colours in the café area.

Curves and waves

The right environment for meeting and lounge facilities requires good acoustics and thus sound absorption. ARCnordic has chosen the Troldtekt curves design solution in a dark custom colour for the ceilings, which creates a nice sense of visual coherence between the rooms separated by the glass walls. At the same time, it is a Troldtekt panel with a unique curved pattern of four narrow grooves surrounding a wider groove.

As the former tenant, DHI, conducts water and environmental research, the wavy pattern of the Troldtekt curves panels goes well with the history of the house and the water theme. The curved pattern is associated with flowing water, causing the panels to appear to be intertwining.

In the small meeting rooms, the Troldtekt curves panels do not extend all the way to the walls, but have been combined with a smooth panel to create a frieze along the walls, thus turning the ceiling design into a simple decoration. In addition, the ceiling has built-in spots with black fixtures to avoid disturbing the harmonious feel of the ceiling surfaces.