Danish Oasis of Calm: Bruno Jakobsen’s Nordic Barnhouse Project

The designer and architect Bruno Jakobsen has created his dream house in his home country Denmark. Secluded in the middle of nature and yet followed by a growing community of fans. It’s as if his two Porsche models were made for this picturesque environment.

Bruno Jakobsen briefly squints as the morning sun shines through the treetops. The Danish architect and designer spent a year observing how light behaves at this very location to ensure perfect illumination of everything he’d been planning. His self-made dream house is now nestled in the heart of this green oasis of old trees, lush meadows, and dense shrubs at the very edge of Randers, a port town on the eastern side of the central Jutland region with a population of 64,000. And the Barnhouse Box – a space dedicated to his Porsche 911 S 2.7 Targa (G-Series) – was only just recently finished.

The soft morning sun bathes the sports car with its brushed stainless-steel roll bar in a golden-yellow light. The designer runs his hand along the car’s removable roof. “I just like how the surface feels,” he says, gently pressing his fingers into the plastic. Everything in the Barnhouse Box is inspired by the classic 1974 car in Satin Black. Jakobsen, who was born in 1976, emphasizes that his vintage stereo system is from the same year as the 911. The large, illuminated brand lettering bathes the room in a warm light, highlighting the walls adorned with Porsche steering wheels and fire extinguishers, a Fuchs wheel, and the massive rear spoiler of a Porsche 911 Turbo (930).

Jakobsen has had his 911 for more than ten years and fondly recalls how his daughter, Silje, and son, Tristan, (now 17 and 14 years old) would drift off to sleep shoulder to shoulder on the back seat during longer drives. Perhaps that’s why the two have developed such a passion for the brand based in Zuffenhausen. While it took his wife, Dorte, a little bit longer to catch the Porsche bug, she now enjoys riding around in the sports car herself.

A fully restored Porsche Junior

It also took some persuasion to convince her to give up the single-family house in the city and build a home in a secluded location in the heart of the forest. But she has since taken to the new way of life surrounded by nature. And Bruno Jakobsen acquired a suitable vehicle for the new environment, a 1960 Porsche Junior, which was fully restored by the previous owner and has been keeping the Targa company in the neighboring workshop for the past two years.

Porsche developed the tractor to series production with a cult following from 1950 to 1963 in partnership with different companies. Jakobsen always dons the overalls he purchased just for the purpose whenever he takes the tractor out, which he usually does just for fun. Two goats and three chickens live in a large enclosure next to the house.

Jakobsen christened his initial idea for a new home in the heart of the dense forest “The Nordic Barnhouse Project” in summer 2019 – and then began sharing it on Instagram in early 2020. More than 270,000 people now follow Jakobsen on the social media platform as he makes a dream come true for him and his family one step at a time: the longhouse that the family lives in, the orangery next door, the large garage, and most recently the Barnhouse Box.

“Nature and wood – that’s my world”

Nature is always within reach in the Nordic barn house, which is typical of the designer’s work. Visual axes throughout the house provide a view of the greenery outside. The Jakobsen family enjoys spending time outdoors anyway. Outside they have a shower, a small pool, and a sauna, with just about everything made from wood. “Nature and wood – that’s my world,” says Jakobsen, who refers to his style as “new Nordic” architecture. “Wood wears with time. It ages. And that’s exactly what makes it the ideal material. Life always leaves a mark.” He especially likes to use Canadian red cedar, which turns silver over time.

It was also the desire for durability and appealing signs of wear and patina that bound him to the sports car brand. “Porsche builds vehicles that are made to be used. They’re not just for looking at and storing in the garage.” And true to his words, he gets in his 911 S 2.7 Targa and drives off into the sun.