See the Danish capital through the eyes of local artist Malene Knudsen, as she takes us on a tour of her favourite studios, showrooms, and exhibition spaces in one of Scandinavia’s most fêted design destinations.
Working out of her Copenhagen studio, Danish ceramicist Knudsen transforms raw stoneware clay and recycled bricks into organic, sculpted pieces with an ethereal allure. Though fired creations often draw on the wild forest landscapes of her childhood, her adopted city also offers endless creative inspiration, if one knows where to look…
Griegst Showroom & Boutique
Across the street from the Royal Danish Ballet theatre, you’ll find a very special boutique, where writhing sculptures, fluid tableware, and magical candlesticks converse with whimsical jewellery pieces. As the eponymous project of the Griegst family, the space recreates the enchanting universe of the late fine jewellery talent Arje Griegst, a goldsmith who thought like a sculptor, borrowing inspiration from Baroque and Eastern aesthetics. His free sculptural form is a contrast to rigid modernism, while also drawing on Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology and the classical elements of earth, water, fire, air, light and darkness. Designs from the House of Griegst are nothing if not striking, on show in spiralling, chiselled, and incised forms, or embedded with a diverse array of gems and inimitable artistic signatures.
Studio Oliver Gustav
Visiting Studio Oliver Gustav is like stepping into another world. The stylish boutique and showroom is housed within the beautiful old museum building on Kastelvej. Displayed against a beguiling backdrop of gallery space meets private home, Gustav’s fascinating art and design pieces are shown to their best possible advantage. A sense of aesthetic calm reigns over the boutique, where the contemporary is cleverly contrasted with the classic.
Etage Projects
Etage Projects is an art and design gallery with a special focus on cross-aesthetic creation. The institution works with creatives who actively investigate and challenge the boundaries between art and design, abstraction and function, thereby encouraging collective culture and interdisciplinary methods. This bijou gallery prides itself on its highly curated talent roster, all demonstrating an admirable, almost electric energy, in their work.
KLASSIK
KLASSIK is a specialist supplier of restored Nordic vintage furniture. For over 20 years, the brand has carefully curated a vast selection of Danish design classics that is virtually unsurpassed on the global market. KLASSIK is renowned for its impressive collection of covetable pieces handcrafted by some of Denmark’s most revered designers, such as Poul Kjærholm, Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner and Finn Juhl. You will also find beautiful stoneware by Axel Salto, Arne Bang, Gunnar Nylund, and other renowned Danish ceramicists.
Tage Andersen Boutique
Stop by Tage Andersen’s wonderful world of flowers in a narrow townhouse in the Old Town. The boutique is an installation for all the senses, like a theatrical display that expresses Tage’s philosophy and life’s work. This fairy-tale world filled with flowers, plants and birdcages, has been created by a man with a truly extraordinary relationship with the natural world and interior design.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Louisiana is located in the town of Humlebæk, just north of Copenhagen, in a beautiful old park with a panoramic view of the Øresund. Art, nature, and architecture come together in an immersive experience, wherein museum buildings blend seamlessly with a landscape defined by sprawling lawns,
shaded forest, viewing terraces, and gorges that drop down to the beach. Home to Louisiana’s magnificent al fresco sculpture collection, the park alone is well worth a visit (as is the art inside, of course).
Kunsthal Charlottenborg
A remarkable extension to Charlottenborg Palace, Kunsthal Charlottenborg is one of the most beautiful exhibition places for contemporary art in Copenhagen. Household names are displayed alongside rising stars from across Denmark and the international art scene. Take a break in the courtyard at Apollo Bar, where the menu ranges from familiar favourites to experimental fusions — my highlights
include the the globe artichoke with bay leaves, and the Icelandic skyr with candied pumpkin and matcha. Dine surrounded by plaster-cast statues from the museum, listening to art-filled conversations from Royal Danish Academy students.
Restaurant Esmée
A bright, open restaurant with a cosy and lively atmosphere and plenty of understated luxury. The interiors evoke a sense of warmth and refinement, complete with the lush greenery and ornate marble surfaces of a modern orangery. The aesthetic brings together soft tones, natural materials, and a multitude of green hues. Book a table for dinner in the front of the restaurant beside the open kitchen that overlooks the grand Kongens Nytorv square, or enjoy an intimate lunch in the secluded courtyard. The spaghetti, with langoustines, prawns, tomato and saffron lobster sauce is a must-try.
The Circle Bridge
Take a stroll along the canals, through the wonderful clutch of urban islands known as Christianshavn. There, you’ll find the Circle Bridge, a true architectural masterpiece designed by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.
WHERE TO STAY
Nimb Hotel
A masterclass in Moorish romance and hygge-luxe, Nimb Hotel’s striking palace faces Copenhagen’s famous Tivoli Gardens which means every suite comes with spellbinding views (not to mention four-poster beds, original artworks, handpicked antiques, log fires, and Cakenhagen treats).
Park Lane Copenhagen
Overlooking the pristine gardens of Øregård Park and only minutes from the sea, this Hellerup hotel is a sanctuary of style in Copenhagen’s northern quarter. Wooden floors, burnished metal finishes, and designer lighting pair with luxurious fabrics in an all-white palette, creating a chic yet calming atmosphere at Park Lane Copenhagen.
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