Set in a shipping merchant’s quarters in Copenhagen’s waterfront district, The Audo is an ambitious new multi-use gathering place. It was dreamed up by the founder of furniture company Menu, Bjarne Hansen, to serve as the brand’s new headquarters, and also to showcase its designs put to use—in a concept store, restaurant and cafe, co-working space, gathering place, and hotel.
Currently celebrating its 40th year, Menu teamed up with frequent collaborator Norm Architects to transform the historic structure into what Hansen describes as a hybrid space that “blurs the lines between home-life and work, uniting design, business and community in one innovative physical space that is alive and under constant renewal.” We say: those guest rooms tucked under the rafters look very tempting. Join us for a tour.
Photography courtesy of The Audo and Norm Architects.
![located in the port district of nordhavn, the \19\14 neo baroque structure is o 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-copenhagen-photo-jonas-bjerre-poulsen-via-norm-architects-1-733x1100.jpg)
The architecture team, led by Norm Architects founder, Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, and Norm partner Peter Eland, preserved the facade while reinventing the interior. Explains Eland, “The exterior references a time when buildings in Copenhagen were inspired by Greek and Roman architecture and just entering the early dawn of modernism, while the inside was a rational and industrial concrete structure that allowed us to transform the building rather freely.” Photograph by Jonas Bjerre Poulsen via Norm Architects.
![menu\2\17;s bank pendant light—designed by norm architects— 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-commons-copenhagen-photo-jonas-bjerre-poulsen-2a-733x1050.jpg)
A team of six interior architects and designers oversaw the furnishings—see the roster at Norm Architects. Photograph by Jonas Bjerre Poulsen.
![\2\20;on the ground floor, the house is symbolically transparent in the 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-commons-copenhagen-photo-monica-steffensen-2b-733x1100.jpg)
Menu’s furniture, lighting, and accessories are the result of its collaborations with a dozen Scandinavian design studios: the Tearoom Club Chairs shown here are by up-and-coming Scottish-Swedish designer Nick Ross. Photograph by Monica Steffensen.
![the same tearoom club chairs in a new guise in the menu materials library. a wh 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-menu-materials-library-copenhagen-photo-mario-depicolzuane-3-733x748.jpg)
![the menu concept store is set up as living room that gets continually rearrange 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-concept-store-copenhagen-photo-mario-depicolzuane-4-733x489.jpg)
![afteroom studio\2\17;s afteroom plus bar & counter chairs at th 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-cafe-copenhaven-photo-monica-steffensen-via-norm-architects-6a-733x1100.jpg)
![a wall of kolon cabinets in an audo meeting space. the ceramic sculpture is by 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-conference-room-copenhagen-photo-monica-steffensen-7-733x489.jpg)
![the menu offices and co working spaces occupy the middle floors. the moody plas 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-residence-stair-copenhagen-photo-jonas-bjerre-poulsen-8a-733x1067.jpg)
![a wood sculpture by copenhagen based british artist nicholas shurey. photograph 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-copenhagen-nicholas-shurey-sculpture-photo-jonas-bjerre-poulsen-5-733x1015.jpg)
![the top floor is devoted to the audo\2\17;s \10 guest suites, each diffe 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-copenhagen-guest-suite-photo-mario-depicolzuane-9a-733x1100.jpg)
![\2\20;the further you move up in the house, the more intimate and warm t 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-residence-copenhagen-guest-suite-photo-monica-steffensen-9b-733x489.jpg)
![a work table is set up between the sitting and sleeping areas. all of the hotel 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-residence-copenhagen-guest-suite-photo-monica-steffensen-10-733x491.jpg)
![a moody bath. the audo\2\17;s sink and shower fixtures are by hangrohe. 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-copenhagen-hotel-bathroom-photo-mario-depicolzuane-11-733x1100.jpg)
![a bathtub under the rafters. photograph by monica steffensen. 30](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-residence-copenhagen-bath-photo-monica-steffensen-733x489.jpg)
![the organic cotton bedding is by danish cult brand aiayu. yoga mats available o 31](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/the-audo-copenhagen-guest-suite-photo-mario-depicolzuane-15-733x489.jpg)
For more to see and do in Copenhagen, explore our Design Travel archives.
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