In Copenhagen, the word “house” does not simply refer to a home. Within the contemporary language of hospitality and design, the house has become a cultural device: a hybrid space where community, work, hospitality, exchange and identity coexist. In a time when the boundaries between public and private are increasingly dissolving, the concept of the house takes on an almost sociological dimension - the home becomes a relational platform and a place of temporary belonging. 

In recent years, many Nordic design brands and institutions have transformed this idea into a new form of hospitality. No longer traditional hotels, static showrooms or purely commercial spaces, but fluid ecosystems where design becomes part of everyday life. It is precisely within this context that Audo House emerges as one of Copenhagen’s most emblematic destinations.

“At Audo, we believe that design is ultimately about connection: how people live, gather and interact with one another.”

— Audo

Located in the Nordhavn district, Audo House occupies a historic building dating back to 1918, once part of the city’s former free port where coffee, spices and textiles from around the world passed through. Today, that industrial area has evolved into one of Copenhagen’s most dynamic creative districts, where restored industrial architecture coexists with contemporary buildings and a vibrant cultural atmosphere. The renovation project by Norm Architects preserved the building’s original character while reinterpreting it through a contemporary sensibility shaped by tactile materials, natural light, warm tones and a distinctly soft Nordic minimalism.

Audo House was conceived as a hybrid concept: showroom, boutique hotel, workspace, concept store and meeting place. Every space is designed to be lived in rather than simply observed. Design is not presented as something distant or untouchable, but integrated into everyday life through furniture, lighting, artworks, books and materials that create a deeply human and domestic atmosphere.

Simone Lorusso: Audo House occupies a building historically connected to trade and the circulation of goods from around the world. How important was it for you to preserve this original idea of exchange and transform it into a place where people, cultures and creative ideas could meet today?

Audo: The history of the building resonates strongly with our own philosophy. While its original purpose was tied to the exchange of goods, we were inspired by the idea of exchange itself, the movement of people, perspectives, and ideas across borders and cultures. Audo House was conceived as a contemporary interpretation of that spirit: a place where design, hospitality, and community meet.

At Audo, we believe that design is ultimately about connection: how people live, gather and interact with one another. Audo House became an opportunity to reinterpret the building's original purpose through a contemporary lens, transforming it into a place where creative minds, international visitors and the local community can come together. Rooted in Copenhagen yet shaped by a global outlook, Audo House reflects the values that define our brand. It is a living environment where design, hospitality and culture intersect, creating meaningful encounters that extend far beyond the objects themselves.

SL: We are living in a moment where the boundaries between private and public spaces are becoming increasingly fluid. Do you think projects like Audo House reflect a new contemporary need for community?

Audo: Very much so. We see a growing desire for spaces that feel both welcoming and purposeful. Places that offer the comfort and intimacy of a home while encouraging interaction, discovery and dialogue. Audo House was conceived around this idea. It brings together hospitality, workspace, dining, exhibitions, and design experiences under one roof, creating an environment that reflects how people increasingly choose to live, work and gather today. For us, community is not simply about bringing people together; it is about creating the right conditions for meaningful connections to happen naturally. Thoughtful design plays an important role in that. Through an ethos of soft minimalism, warmth and human-centered design, we aim to create spaces that invite people to slow down, engage, and feel at ease.

And this is where the meaning of the word “house” becomes truly significant. A house means hosting. It means opening a space to others, creating the conditions for encounter and turning architecture into a form of hospitality. 

The boutique hotel rooms, normally conceived as intimate retreats where design accompanies the everyday rhythm of guests, will be reinterpreted as narrative spaces. Each room becomes a temporary microcosm capable of welcoming new visions and creative languages. This transformation is deeply coherent with the nature of Audo House itself. Since opening in 2019, the project has sought to move beyond the traditional showroom model in order to create a more fluid dimension where architecture, design and everyday life continuously intersect.

“During 3daysofdesign, that rhythm shifts. The house becomes more dynamic, opening itself to a global audience and a continuous flow of visitors. What changes is not the identity of the space, but the way it is encountered. ”

— Audo

During 3daysofdesign, this vocation becomes even more amplified. Hospitality takes on a curatorial dimension. The hotel temporarily stops being just a place to stay and becomes a diffuse exhibition platform, where visitors can move freely through installations, artworks and domestic interiors. It is a slower, more immersive way of experiencing design - far removed from the neutrality of the traditional gallery space.

SL: During 3daysofdesign, Audo House seems to shift from being a place to inhabit to a place to move through. How does the relationship between the space and its visitors change during the festival?

Audo: Throughout the year, Audo House is experienced as a lived environment. Guests stay in the residence, enjoy a meal from the café, or spend time moving slowly through the spaces at their own pace. It is designed to feel residential in its essence, intimate, welcoming, and deeply human, reflecting how people truly live, gather and connect.

During 3daysofdesign, that rhythm shifts. The house becomes more dynamic, opening itself to a global audience and a continuous flow of visitors. What changes is not the identity of the space, but the way it is encountered. Movement becomes quicker, moments more layered, and impressions more immediate. However, the underlying intention remains the same: to create spaces that feel thoughtful, grounded, and lived-in, even in transition. For the festival, we extend this experience through a series of carefully curated transformations across the house. New product introductions are presented within smaller, atmospheric exhibitions that can only be experienced during 3daysofdesign, offering more intimate readings of the designs within a spatial context.

We also introduce unexpected encounters with the house itself, for example, a hotel room transformed in collaboration with one of Copenhagen’s most talked-about cocktail and vinyl bars, inviting guests to experience Audo in a completely different, more social setting. Elsewhere, we celebrate 90 years of our iconic lounge chair The Tired Man, presented in a dedicated installation that reflects its enduring relevance and comfort. In the concept store, the presentation takes shape under the idea of Quiet Grandeur, where new launches are elevated in a setting that emphasizes materiality, atmosphere and restraint.

Across all of these interventions, the intention is the same: to show how design moves beyond objects and into experience. During 3daysofdesign, Audo House becomes a place where the residential and the public, the permanent and the temporary, meet. Reinforcing our belief that design is most powerful when it creates connection between people.

“This year’s presentation brings together new introductions across furniture, lighting and objects, alongside a series of site-specific installations throughout Audo House. ”

— Audo

SL: Can you give us a preview of some of the products, designers or installations that will transform Audo House during 3daysofdesign?

Audo: This year’s presentation brings together new introductions across furniture, lighting and objects, alongside a series of site-specific installations throughout Audo House.

Among the highlights are new pieces by Krøyer-Sætter-Lassen and Norm Architects, as well as a new dining table by Copenhagen-based studio Atelier Axo. In the courtyard, visitors will also discover a preview of an outdoor collection developed with designer Danielle Siggerud, exploring how Audo’s design language translates into open-air environments. Throughout the house, new launches are presented within immersive spatial settings rather than as standalone objects, allowing visitors to experience the pieces in dialogue with architecture, materiality and atmosphere.

As always, our ambition is for visitors to leave with more than an impression of individual designs. We hope they carry with them a feeling - a sense of comfort, creativity and connection that stays with them long after they leave Audo House.

The architecture itself also contributes to this experience. The restored original beams, the sloping ceilings beneath the roof and the dialogue between wood, stone and tactile surfaces create a sense of intimacy that makes each installation feel naturally embedded within the space. Nothing feels artificial or scenographic; everything appears as though it has always belonged there.

In this sense, Audo House perfectly represents one of the most interesting evolutions in contemporary design: the shift from object to relationship. What matters is no longer only what is displayed, but how it is lived, shared and experienced.