Hi, I will have a few days in Copenhagen next month. My first time to this city. I would like to know if you guys and gals have any recommendations for things to see and shop in this mid-C mecca. I heard the Danish Design Centre is a bit of a let down. Sounds like Illums Bolighus is a must. No visit is complete without a visit to the SAS Radisson and the Royal Library? In particular, I would be interested in shops that sell Arne Bang, Saxbo, etc. vases. Thanks in advance.
Part 1
Hello Baked.
I live in Copenhagen and I know just about every store there is so let me give you some clues to what's interesting in Cph.
Illums Bolighus is the largest designstore in Denmark and is worth a visit, though I'm sure you've seen most of what they have for sale anyway. It lays right in the center of Strøget (near Storkespringvandet), a looooong road filled with stores and can be easily found.
DDC (Danish Design Center) can be really exiting, however really not at the moment. Their exhibition area is not that large but it's only a few minutes walk from the Town Hall/Square opposite Tivoli so if you have some spare time, you can go there.
The SAS hotel is nice for having a drink at night in the lounge or even better, having dinner/lunch at Alberto K in the top of the building with a spectacular view of Cph. from above. Excellent food, excellent service and excellent interior (however expensive too).
If you have the time, go visit the Louisiana museum in Hornbæk. It's about 45 min. by train/bus but they have a fantastic modern art collection and a huge retrospective exhibition on Poul Kjærholm with rare drawings and prototypes. Louisiana and its surroundings is themselves worth a visit.
One thing you must not cheat yourself from seing is The Danish Museum of Design in Bredgade called Kunstindustrimuseet. It's in the Top 5 over design-museums in the world and their collection is massive and very impressive! Only about 1/5 is on exhibition but you can spend hours there going through items from China, Japan, most of Europe but esp. the modern department is really good where each room is dedicated to fx. Kaare Klint, PH, Arne Jacobsen, Pop Art furniture, Danish Modern etc. Part of their impressive collection has been packed together because they've made room for two very interesting exhibitions about textiles by Hanne Vedel and fantastic silver items by Allan Scharff but the good stuff's still there. You must go there!
Part 2
Then there are the designshops.
First of all, try Bredgade near Kgs. Nytorv. Here you have all the largest designstores and auction houses in Denmark with vintage items and at the end of Bredgade lies Kunstindustrimuseet so I'll recommend that you take a stroll down Bredgade. The sellection is impressive but expensive. Some of the stores have homepages:
www.klassik.dkwww.dmk.dkwww.houseofdesign.dk
But there are many others stores, esp. in the beginning of Bredgade, even Kay Bojesen's old workshop and store is now a mecca for collectors of items by Kay Bojesen and Finn Juhl.
Here's a list over shops in and around Cph. (some in Danish):
www.antiqueofthefuture.com,www.findetfund.dk, http://kolmorgen.com,www.tema-antik.dk,www.roxyklassik.dk,
There's also Ravnsborggade near Nørrebrogade. It's sort of a antique-street with a 4-5 shops that sell modern design. The street is becoming a bit fashionable with young clothing-stores and it's know as a bit of tourist-trap but you can still find great items there if you got the money. Esp. near the end right before a small basketballquart is there a shop in the basement with a impressive selection of Danish Modern items.
If you have any questions, just ask and I'll try helping/guide you.
Everything M_Andersen said,...
Everything M_Andersen said, especially about the Kunstindustrimuseet and the Louisiana.
Be sure to have smørrebrød for lunch at least one day---delicious edible Danish design!
Illums Bolighus is fun because not only can you see some classic Danish designs up close but you can also handle them, see how they're made, try out the chairs, etc. I believe everything in the store is made in Denmark and they have lots of small housewares and decorative objects so it's a great place to get souvenirs of your trip.
There's also an Illums Bolighus in the Copenhagen airport (along with some other good shops) and I think you might be able to avoid paying the VAT, which is 25% or so, if you buy there. But they don't have as big a selection as the main store.
Oh, the Bodum store at the north end of the Strøget is also fun---lots of well-designed contemporary housewares. It's a quick stop, very tiny.
What a pleasure
to stroll through Copenhagen with two good guides. After visiting as intensively as...every friday (a long but pleasant commute by night train from Holland) I have not been there in many years now. The streetnames are of course very familiar and it is just a pleasure to be guided like this. It also reminds me about all the changes. Den Permanente seems to be gone, Torben Orskov's fine store to and somehow Bing & Grondahl and Kongliga Porselinet on Stroget have fallen off the list. I should find a way to visit...
Have a nice stay "baked" and spend some "evening" time in "Tivoli".
Spot on!
Hi, got back from my trip a few days ago and wanted to drop a note to say that the information above is spot on. I did most of the above but unfortunately did not have time to travel out to Louisiana. The cafe at the Kunstindustrimuseet is worthy of a mention whether sitting inside or outside in the beautiful interior garden of the museum. Ravnsborggade was also fun, especially if you have the time to rummage through the stuff. I could also not resist picking up a Rosendahl vase at the airport on the way out. Certianly worthwhile leaving a few hours for shopping there. Thanks once again to M_Andersen and Spanky for making my trip all the more enjoyable.
1892
I ended up sampling Smorrebrod at a cafe below the Workers Museum (Arbejdermuseet). I think it is called "1892". A very home-ly type of place with 1930's decor. The food was pretty good. It appears locals eat there, so that is always a good sign! Speaking of design and food, I had had dinner at Grill Bar (www.grill-bar.dk). Good food, stylish atmosphere, though pricey.
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