Dinesen Apartment
Dinesen Apartment in Brooklyn, New York by David Thulstrup operates as a home, showroom and immersive gathering place that showcases the Danish brand’s bespoke wooden flooring solutions.
Located inside a distinctive pastel-pink, mixed-use building designed by SO–IL, the two-level apartment rethinks what a showroom can be by presenting Dinesen’s wood in the context of everyday life.
When Dinesen took on the Brooklyn apartment as a temporary pop-up showroom, Thulstrup was brought in to define its spatial and material narrative. His longstanding relationship with Dinesen shaped the project from the beginning. “I’ve been working with Dinesen for many years,” he says. “Each time, I get the opportunity to explore in different projects around the world new ways of implementing things.”
Entering at street level, visitors go down a flight of stairs to enter the calm, light-filled space. In the dining area, a sculptural half-turn staircase, rendered completely in oak, draws the eye and guides you upstairs. “I worked very hard on trying to create a beautiful staircase. I love when you have this monolith of materiality.”
Key to the space is a sense of contrast. “I love something that is refined and something that is raw at the same time,” he notes. Exposed concrete ceilings sit alongside beautifully painted walls in warm, subtle shades. The interiors are layered with elegant rugs and drapery, alongside bespoke furniture by Thulstrup, John Pawson and Danish vintage pieces.
Throughout the apartment, Dinesen timber appears in flooring, wall-cladding, staircases, built-in furniture and details. Layers Oak Classic is used as the primary material, with Layers HeartOak introduced in select moments for added character. Expertly crafted joinery by Danish duo Ocular ensures continuity, from wall cladding that aligns precisely with floorboards to a solid oak headboard and floor-to-ceiling bookcase.
Thulstrup collaborated very closely with Dinesen on the interiors, and notes that respect for material is paramount. “The knowledge that Dinesen have towards the implementation within a project of their products is of crucial value… Dinesen is working with utmost respect towards wood.” His aim is to respond in kind. “What I want to do with all of my projects is I want to show that respect by creating something that stands the test of time.”
More than a simple showroom, the Dinesen Apartment is meant to be used. Visitors can walk barefoot on oak floors, gather, talk and live with the materials – experiencing, as Thulstrup puts it, “something that’s tactile, and something that reminds us of being grounded”.
Architecture by SO—IL. Interior design by David Thulstrup. Development by Tankhouse. Joinery by Ocular. Timber solutions by Dinesen.
