Great Northern Restaurant version 2.0
Great Northern is one of Denmark’s most ambitious and luxurious golf and spa resorts. The distinctive and beautiful building rises proudly above its setting of green meadows and a well-manicured golf course. The pervading air is one of tasteful elegance. So when Lulu was asked to do a new take on the restaurant at Great Northern, updating the interior to a version 2.0, this was quite a challenge: how to improve on what was already there?
Overall design strategy
Natural colours and materials dominate the entire place. The beautiful natural stone walls, the dark tiles on the floor, the large windows that allow light and nature to come inside, and, of course, the iconic roof with its large, curved wooden beams: all of these aspects combine to create a tranquil and very beautiful space.
A decision was made to introduce the colour green. All kinds of green. From the juicy grass-green found on the golf course outside, to the dusty green of the long grasses that wrap around the buildings and the yellow-green hues one sees in autumn. All these greens reflect the natural setting, drawing it inside. At the same time, they give the interior a more modern and relatable feel. Green is, after all, one of those colours that we humans tend to particularly thrive in. Here, the green is carried through in furniture, curtains, carpets, cushions and shelves.
On the lower floor, the large space needed to be subdivided to create a separate gym area. The ingenious solution was a custom-built low room divider that also provides storage space, all of it covered in leather for a sumptuous feel. Continuing the theme, the existing cabinet doors in the bedroom were also covered in leather for an exclusive and cohesive look. In the ten-metre corridor, a striped runner in evenly matched black and white stripes introduces graphic interest and accentuates the perspective – an eye-catching detail with great impact.
The introduction of glass elements was another key feature. The modern, sleekly stringent glass shelves offer a distinct contrast to the soft shapes of the sofas and the dark wooden tables and chairs that strike a calming note within the scheme. At the same time, the shelves serve as room dividers that add interest to the space while also offering a place to display decorative art pieces or simply let nature in all its beauty serve as art. Thus, the décor mixes sleek white laser-printed ceramic vases with large natural stones collected from Danish beaches. A carefully curated display of beautiful shapes that does not overwhelm yet fascinates the eye.
The interplay of structure, form, and material pervades the entire restaurant, exquisitely tied together by the use of green. Great Northern Restaurant version 2.0 remains as beautiful as ever – and a bit bolder than before.
