I have another highlight from 3 Days of Design to share with you today, and it’s a place that definitely merits a dedicated post of its own. Called The Audo and unveiled to the public during the event, it’s the new HQ of Danish design brand Menu. But it’s also so much more than that – in fact, it’s an office, a showroom, a boutique hotel, a concept store, a café and a co-working space all rolled into one.
Developed in collaboration with Norm Architects (who have created many of Menu’s most popular pieces) and Nathan Williams of Kinfolk magazine, it’s set in Copenhagen’s regenerated dockside district of Nordhavn. The building was originally created in 1918 to house the Russian Trading Co Ltd, and its brick-red Neo-Baroque façade has been retained and restored. Inside, though, is a different matter: a sleek and sophisticated mix of concrete, black metal and glass, with soaring windows that flood the space with natural light.
On the ground floor, almost all partitions have been removed to form a large open-plan space that encompasses a guest lounge, a café and a shop selling a curated selection of books, textiles and artwork. Dotted here and there are cosy seating nooks where visitors are invited to settle back to read or work, and there’s a long table that’s ideal for informal gatherings. Plans are even afoot for a full restaurant at the rear.
Menu’s offices are on the floor above, and nestled into the eaves at the very top are 10 guest bedrooms featuring exposed beams, Dinesen timber floors and walls in earthy shades of beige, sand and terracotta. Most of the furniture and accessories come from Menu’s own collection and I spied many of my favourites, including ‘Échasse’ vases, ‘Offset’ sofas, ‘Plinth’ tables and ‘JWDA’ lamps. There are also beds by Swedish brand DUX (the result of a partnership unveiled during Stockholm Design Week earlier this year), sustainable textiles from Aiayu, and stunning artworks from Portland-based Benjamin Ewing. The overall effect is minimalist and very stylish, yet at the same time cosy and cocooning.
It’s the kind of carefully considered, holistically designed place that I dream of staying, but for now I’ll have to content myself with poring over the photos I took during my visit in search of decor inspiration, and perhaps heading back there for a coffee or two when I’m next in Copenhagen.
Oh, and if you’re wondering about the name The Audo, it’s an acronym of the Latin phrase ab uno disce omnes (‘from one, learn all’) – a fitting nod to the collaborative, multifunctional nature of the space, don’t you think?
Visit The Audo’s website to sign up for more information when available. In the meantime, you can enquire about bookings and room rates by emailing info@theaudo.com.
Most photography by Abi Dare; images eight, nine, 14 and 17 by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects
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