The Triple Folly
Architect: Caruso St. John Architects
Artist: Thomas Demand
Location: Ebeltoft, Denmark
Type: Hospitality, Conference
Year: 2022
Photographs: Nic Tenwiggenhorn
Art as architecture; architecture as art.
The following description is courtesy of the architects. High-end textile brand Kvadrat is shedding fresh light on the dynamic between architecture and art – a Gesamtkunstwerk – with the opening of The Triple Folly, a sculptural hospitality and conference venue at their HQ in Ebeltoft, Denmark.
The Triple Folly – a still life assembled on a hillock overlooking the sea – is three buildings and, at the same time, one building. It comprises a trio of volumes which each represent an item developed by Thomas Demand: a sheet of legal paper, a paper plate, and an American soda jerk’s hat. Equipped with these curiosities, he reached out to Caruso St. John architects with a compelling question. “Can you make this
into architecture?”
A Gesamtkunstwerk is a ‘total artwork’ that unites different forms of art, design, and craft to create a cohesive whole in which various elements seamlessly complement each other. The Triple Folly embodies this harmonic approach: working closely together from the onset, Thomas Demand and Caruso St John architects co-developed the interior’s defining features, including surfaces, chairs, tables, lamps,
and even the door handles.
The journey to the unveiling of The Triple Folly began when Anders Byriel, CEO of Kvadrat, invited Thomas Demand, one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation, to design a building at the company’s headquarters. The project represents the latest iteration of their celebrated long-term collaboration – and typifies the lasting, visionary relationships that are a cornerstone of the Kvadrat brand. Inside, visitors will encounter an expansive artwork crafted from suspended heavy wool threads Yes but by artist Rosemarie Trockel, which also works to elevate acoustic comfort. It was purchase in 2006 to be displayed at the HQ, and the ‘hat’ of The Triple Folly was made to fit the work seamlessly.
Kvadrat offers a constellation of pioneering textiles and textile-related products. Mindful of this, Thomas Demand initially gravitated towards the idea of tents, an archetypal textile structure. Embracing this source
of inspiration led the artist to research the history of tents. This process revealed their multidimensional role in society – from setting the stage for happy family events to protecting refugees and even providing
accommodation for rulers in wartime.
