Ark Journal vol. IX

SPRING/SUMMER 2023

Ark Journal Volume IX uses the question “What is already there?” to examine the creativity and dedication that shape both new projects and those involving renovation, restoration, and extension.

The issue explores the rich architectural heritage of Copenhagen, including the listed and renovated apartment of an artist couple who worked carefully to preserve its soul while transforming it into a family home. A photo essay by architect Mathias Mentze captures the vibrant colours, mosaic floors, and frescoes of Copenhagen’s oldest museum, the Thorvaldsen Museum, while a special insert highlights the work of Copenhagen-based photographer Albert Grøndahl, who investigates the intersection of personal narratives with cultural and historical references.

Readers are also taken to Mexico, where a gallerist couple has transformed a series of ruins into a home filled with art that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces, preserving existing structures and weaving them into a harmonious dialogue between old and new.

The architectural and design practice of Fanny Bauer Grung and David Lopez Quincoces demonstrates a belief that old and new can do more than simply co-exist—they can illuminate one another. This philosophy comes to life in their Milan home and newly opened studio.

At its core, Ark Journal Volume IX reflects the conviction that good design and architecture have the power to evoke emotions and elevate experiences within a space. The issue presents residences and interiors where design leaves a profound physical and emotional mark: from the studio and home of Finnish master designer Yrjö Kukkapuro, to a house in Oaxaca open to the jungle, a transparent penthouse in Antwerp, a modest yet soulful mid-century residence in Los Angeles, and many more.