Danish design brand Vipp invited Marrakesh and Paris-based Studio KO to conjure an ephemeral guesthouse for 3daysofdesign, creating a temporary sanctuary where North African sensibilities meet Nordic restraint. This is not merely cultural exchange but material alchemy where the weathered textures of ancient craft traditions find themselves in intimate conversation with Denmark’s celebrated design legacy.
Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, the duo behind Studio KO, arrived in Denmark as pilgrims to an uncharted landscape. Their reverence for Jean Nouvel, whose Louisiana Manifesto emerged from contemplation on a museum bench facing the Øresund, guided them toward this collaboration with Vipp. Where Parisian kiosks traditionally employed painted metal and glass, Studio KO chose timber subjected to the ancient Japanese technique of shou sugi ban. The charring process creates a surface that is simultaneously protective and vulnerable, permanent, and ephemeral.
“We are honored to collaborate with Vipp, a brand that we have admired for many years,” says Karl Fournier, co-founder of Studio KO. “It was fascinating to be immersed in their history dating back to the 1930s and universe of iconic products.”
The modular Vipp Loft sofa stretches through the space, its clean geometry softened by Pierre Frey textiles that speak of ancient weaving traditions. The Vipp Swivel chair, typically clad in leather’s cool uniformity, transforms under Pierre Frey’s hand-woven texture – the textile’s subtle variations become the design’s strength rather than its flaw.
“With this project we want to challenge what people expect to see from a Danish design company. Longtime admirers of Studio KO’s work, we aim to create a dialogue between our distinct aesthetic spheres – a new kind of harmony occurs when contrasting materials and ideas come together. With an element of surprise and playfulness, the space integrates tactility, audio, smell, and bold aesthetics that we hope awakens all the senses,” explains Kasper Egelund, 3rd generation Vipp owner.
For more information, visit vipp.com.
Photography courtesy of Vipp.
