Word on the street is that Copenhagen's 3daysofdesign is the new Salone del Mobile, with its slogan, “Keep It Real,” thought to be a cheeky dig at Italian excess. Creative multi-hyphenate (and RUSSH alumni) Phoebe Holden was on the ground for all the buttery eggs, tactile pop-ups and tasteful chaos, moving between exhibitions and show rooms – and of course, documenting all the highlights for RUSSH.
Here, she maps out the unfiltered moments, considered objects and very good shoes that defined her week in the Danish capital.
Day one
The day began with New Zealand’s Resident hosting a breakfast to launch eight new product families alongside a team of new designers. Managing Director Scott Bridgens introduced ASCA Studio, Tim Rundle, Michael Young and Daniel Schofield, who spoke casually about their work as guests split pastries from Hart Bageri and sipped green juice surrounded by an earthy colour palette presented by Note (design studio).
In Sydney, it feels as though every chic shoulder supports a woven Dragon Diffusion bag. In Auckland, it’s a medium Palorosa. So this was a must see. Following its Milan debut, the brand presented a travelling exhibition in collaboration with Pura Utz, a summer project shaped by flowers and the spirit of Guatemala.
I refuelled with a seeded cheese bun from Andersen & Maillard while people-watching in the park. Everyone appeared to be wearing cocoa-toned Havaianas or Keen Uneek trekking sandals in charcoal or ecru. Claw clips truly are everywhere.
Following lunch, New Zealand’s BAINA had a pop up consisting of towels, fresh figs and something exciting I wasn’t allowed to photograph… more on this later. My final stop was VÆRKTØJ, presenting a new chair concept by John Tree and a brilliant lighting display by Tom Dixon and Frederik Gustav. Now in its second iteration, the exhibition explores how the tools designers use shape both their ideas and identities. This year’s focus was the workshop press.
The day ended at Osteria 16 in Vesterbro, where there are no menus, just eight courses of perfect spring produce served by chic staff in casual shirts and great shoes.
Day two
I began my day at Atelier September with buttery eggs and an artichoke dipped in pistachio cream and drowning in olive oil. A five-minute stroll around the corner, on Borgergade, Knot House unveiled Resilience, featuring concrete ceramic works by actor and artist Susanne Storm. Following a short walk to Østergade, I found myself at HAY Shop purchasing a box of matches. Dotted amongst coloured crates and overpriced wash bags (I bought four), the brand utilised their multi-story retail space to host a preview of upcoming collections. The Ava Pyramid Table Lamp by Ana Kraš was the lighting solution on everyone’s lips.
The entire city now pulsing, I zigzagged through the masses to secure a spot at Noura Residency for Charlotte Taylor’s Home from Home. Recommended by many stylish friends, I knew it would be good, I didn’t know it would be this good. An exploration of interiors and how our domestic spaces reflect the layered dualities of living, this exhibition offered a study of how time, light and impulse shape our daily environments. Helen by Oliver Malcom was pumping through the speakers (Shazamed from my pocket) as I made my way through each room of glorious mess. The kitchen, bedroom and bathroom spaces left me genuinely emotional. Every detail was considered, down to the scattering of newspapers littering table tops, a publication created for the event, illustrated by Olga Prader, the artist behind Apartamento Magazine’s cult-followed design identity featuring recipes by Zsuzsanna Toth.
TEKLA was top of my list, but the Charlotte Taylor come-down was hard to shake. Still beautiful, the Danish fan favourite launched their broderie anglaise collection titled Modern Romance at Charlottenborg, an art institution and former palace situated in the heart of the city. An ode to broderie anglaise, or “English embroidery,” the collection paid homage to open cutwork, needle lace and stitching, all showcased using custom beds designed by Mentze Ottenstein. Guests were then invited to make their way to TEKLA’s store where pillowcases and pyjamas could be purchased and hand-stitched with initials. Two words — Sofia Coppola.
I finished the day at Poulette, perched on a step beneath a sign clearly stating, “EAT YOUR BURGER ELSEWHERE.” A very good, spicy, chicken burger washed down with a mini San Pellegrino. I think Dua Lipa was a little generous in stating that this was the best burger one could buy, though it was very good.
Day three
Armed with a cheese bun and maple iced latte, I swung into Vaarnii, where new additions to their Maasto range by Ronan Bouroullec were unveiled. The Bouroullec brothers are to 3daysofdesign what Jonathan Anderson is to Fashion Week. Present at the event, the room filled with excitable whispers each time the French design star ducked outside to use his vape.
A few blocks away, Bitossi Ceramiche made its debut with an installation hosted by Etage Projects. The exhibition featured sculptural objects inspired by AI’s synthetic mind, exploring a suspended state between natural thought and digital mimicry. I met an old colleague across the road at Slurp Ramen for lunch, where Frederik Bille Brahe was seated in the window. Reminiscent of Potts Point’s Bones Ramen but double the price, this may have been the best broth I have ever tasted.
My final stop worthy of note was FRAMA, so popular that visitors had to scan a QR code and queue for entry. The brand offered a fresh take on modular living, constructing a makeshift campsite at the heart of the space, punctuated by pops of International Klein Blue the exhibition explored the age old question of what we really need to live well.
Spurred on by my lunchtime sighting, I headed to Frederik Bille Brahe’s Apollo Bar for dinner, where tomato toast was washed down with orange wine and the people-watching was second to none.
