Ever wanted to spend a night in an industrial relic while not missing out on luxurious amenities? Then THE KRANE, a converted coal crane in Copenhagen's Nordhavn, is just your kind of thing.

The multi-tiered structure sports a reception area on the ground floor (a designated concierge car meets guests at the airport), a meeting room with incredible views of the water called the GLASS BOX on the first floor, a cantilevered spa and a terrace on the second floor, and a private retreat for two on top called the KRANE ROOM with a small lounge and terrace.

The project was conceived and designed by owner Klaus Kastbjerg (a driving force behind a number of Copenhagen waterfront revitalization projects, like the impressive THE SILO transformation with COBE) and architect/builder Mads Møller from Arcgency.

Scroll on for many more stunning photographs by Rasmus Hjortshøj and a project description we've received from the designers.

Step inside THE KRANE and you’ll instantly sense a re-definition of luxury deep in the Danish DNA. An understated elegance with only the essentials. It’s all part of the vision, where the focus has been the integration of sensations - sight, sound and stemning (the Danish word for atmosphere),” explains Møller, whose Arcgency projects include the Vipp Shelter, the Absalon Church, the Container Office, STACK I & II made with upcycled, repurposed shipping containers developed in collaboration with Kastbjerg.

“THE KRANE involved a 360-degree inside / outside approach. Natural light directly affects how we feel in a space and our happiness overall. So we optimised the inside to capture natural daylight and set the stage for the views of the water outside. Curating the perfect materials and carefully calibrating how the light reflects the surfaces and how that impacts the way people perceive their surroundings. Then there’s the water outside. The water is probably 80% of THE KRANE experience. In Denmark, during the summer we have longer days of sunlight from about 5 am till 10 pm. Along the coastline, the light is very soft and diffused. From inside THE KRANE, even stormy weather looks amazing.”

In addition to its allusions to coal, black plays a pivotal role in muting and minimising visual distractions so people feel almost enveloped in the interior. At the same time, black dramatizes the changing light and breath-taking views outside. For Møller, black isn’t just black. “There are hundreds of different shades of black. Depending on the time of day, you can see so many subtle nuances.” For Kastbjerg, “Usually you go to a hotel and a thousand things are happening. You’re at the hotel to de-stress from work but now you have to de-stress from the hotel. With THE KRANE, the black interior combined with the crispy white bed sheets makes everything quiet. You can feel calm, at peace. Enjoying the view as the art.”

Leather, wood, stone and steel. They’re just some of the noble materials you’ll see in the furniture, designs and décor details. Not only is the furniture custom-made to fit the concept and the dimensions, the interior is constructed so the primary pieces disappear - with the beds, seating and cupboards integrated into wall panels and the functional pieces hidden away. The result is an extra element of discovery, where objects become like sculptures in a stunning still life. Everything is handcrafted by artisans in homage to Denmark’s expertise in craftsmanship. Adding even more to the exclusivity.

In contrast to the womb-like effect of the black interior of the KRANE ROOM, the spa below takes a lighter approach, clad in stone from floor to ceiling. It boasts an immense, glazed glass wall as a window on one side, with a singular view of the harbour and the ocean. Kastbjerg remembers wondering, “With the winter weather in Denmark, we couldn’t really have a spa outside. But who wants to sit inside and miss the nature? So we designed one wall completely in glass and decided to have two spa baths. Those two details changed everything.” It all contributes to a sense of wellbeing from your hosts Amazing Space, who in this context are Amazing Krane. Think sea, sky, body and soul.

Why have a meeting room that’s boring to begin with when you can meet in a room with magnificent views, magnifying the impact of whatever you’re discussing? As Møller sees it, “It kick starts your imagination. Adding to the calm atmosphere are the wooden floors, their natural aroma and the acoustic ceiling. It’s the furthest thing from cold or corporate. “It’s a totally different experience from most of the dull meeting rooms I’ve been in,” adds Kastbjerg. “Here you have a panoramic view at the edge of the water. So your thoughts can somehow flow …”

Project Details

Location: Skudehavnsvej 1, 2150 Nordhavn/ Copenhagen, Denmark
Start/finish: 2015 – 2017
Client: Klaus Kastbjerg 
Architect: Arcgency

Size: 166m2 + 120m2 terrace
KRANE ROOM 40m2
LOUNGE 7m2
SPA 34m2
GLASS BOX (reception, meeting) 40 m2
Reception, kitchen and storage (containers on ground) 45 m2