< Previous172 Exceptional design hotels, culinary experiences and chic boutiques make Copenhagen a must-vist GREAT DANES ES CA P E / S ta y A view of the Nimb’s Moorish-style facade from the Tivoli Gardens. OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: Brasserie Stemming; a deluxe balcony room; antiques in a guest room. AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17209/12/2019 05:49:38 PMNIMB HOTEL Copenhagen is famous for its sleek, modernist design, but The Nimb shows it can do quirky, characterful experiences, too. It’s set in an extravagant Moorish- style palace dating from 1909, which is surrounded by the famous Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. The original white marble building, which was restored just prior to its opening as a hotel in 2008, has recently been joined by a new contemporary wing designed by New York architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, taking it from 17 to 38 rooms. Each one is individually decorated, with handpicked artworks and antique furniture. A simple palette of grey shades serves as a calming antidote to the architecture’s wedding-cake prettiness, and thanks to the balconies and garden views in almost every room, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery. What really set The Nimb apart, though, are the dining experiences it off ers. There are seven restaurants, from a French-style brasserie to Fru Nimb, which specialises in Danish open sandwiches, a decadent patisserie named Cakenhagen, and Gemyse, a new greenhouse space that serves organic greens from its own kitchen garden. There’s even the Vinotek for oenophiles, which serves 1,100 diff erent vintages. The new extension plays host to The Nimb’s most spectacular design display – a rooftop bar and heated pool, the latter clad in black and turquoise Italian mosaic tiles that sparkle against the water. Here, from the bar lounge that skirts the pool, guests can enjoy cocktails and survey some of the newer architectural additions to Copenhagen’s skyline. Down in the basement is the other new attraction – Nimb Chic Eats Relae The former Noma sous chef Christian Puglisi co-founded Relae in 2010. It has racked up culinary honours since (including a Michelin star) for its simple New Nordic cuisine. restaurant-relae.dk Sanchez Rosio Sanchez honed her skills as the pastry chef at Noma for fi ve years. In 2015, she opened a taco stand, Hija de Sanchez, and her much-lauded casual eaterie, Sanchez Cantina, followed last year. lovesanchez.com Amass Chef Matt Orlando’s inspiring, upscale cooking is seasonable and sustainable - he uses fresh produce that is grown almost entirely in the kitchen garden. amassrestaurant.com Wellness, a state-of-the-art gym and spa. The former boasts high-tech Technogym fi tness machines and a room heated to 34°C for hot cardio training – the fi rst such space in Denmark. As in the rest of the hotel, the oriental-inspired décor has been masterminded by interior designer René Jesper Thomsen, who also created the Moroccan- style hammam with its Moorish arches and dark timber fretwork. Massage treatments are a focus here, or you can simply unwind in the steam room. Double rooms from around $408, nimb.dk AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17309/12/2019 05:49:46 PM160 What’s in Store Stilleben A boutique helmed designers who travel the world sourcing handmade ceramics, one-of-a-kind objects, textiles, furniture, jewellery and art. stilleben.dk Hay Be sure to swing by Hay’s furniture showroom. As well as all manner of covetable creations from the cool design brand, there's a cosy cafe. Østergade 61, hay.dk Han Kjøbenhavn This Danish fashion brand got its start in eyewear but has since expanded into apparel for men and women. Expect simple-yet-edgy designs, plus chic wall art and prints. hankjobenhavn.com THE AUDO Scandinavian brands are usually well ahead of the curve when it comes to anticipating lifestyle trends, and Menu is no exception. The design label’s latest venture is The Audo, a hybrid space consisting of co-working areas, a café, restaurant and concept store, as well as a boutique hotel. Its name is a wry abbreviation of the Latin phrase ab uno disce omnes (“from one, learn all”), and as befi ts the zeitgeist-y atmosphere, all the zones blend seamlessly into one another, encapsulating the modern ideal of a work-life balance. Just after it opened in May, Chanel gave the venue its seal of approval by staging a pop-up store here. You’ll fi nd The Audo in Copenhagen’s Nordhavn harbour district, currently undergoing a major regeneration. Its sleek yet comfortable look is the vision of various home-grown talents, notably Norm Architects, a regular collaborator with Menu. They reimagined the 1918 neo-baroque building, which was once the HQ of the Russian Trading Co. Ltd, a fi shing company. On the outside, original features have been preserved, but the interior has been redrawn as an open-plan space in concrete, brass and marble, with pale-wood Dinesen fl oors and perforated black metal ceilings. The 10-room hotel is on the uppermost fl oor. It’s a calm, restful space that contrasts with the more energetic, social happenings at ground level. Menu’s design team, including founder Bjarne Hansen, furnished the loft-style suites with a mix of the brand’s furniture and accessories, adding beds from Swedish heritage maker Dux and craft ceramics for an individual touch. Nathan Williamson, co-founder of Kinfolk magazine, provided creative direction. You’ll spot many a design trend here – velvet seating, 1970s mustard and caramel shades, busy retro patterns on upholstery, statement marbles – but they’re delivered with such a light touch, that it feels inspiring not try-hard. Downstairs, the concept store sells a mix of lifestyle accessories, Menu design objects and fashion – great for picking up a gift or two before you head home. And don’t miss the huge marble bar, which also serves as the concierge desk. Like everything here, it’s a modern multi-tasker. Double rooms from around $700, theaudo.com P HOTO S: KI M PE TE RSE N AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17409/12/2019 05:50:01 PMES CA P E /S ta y 175 A serene sitting room in a guest suite. OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: One of the 10 bedrooms; the cafe; Menu products have been used in the public and private spaces. AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17509/12/2019 05:50:23 PM176 ES CA P E / S ta y Sanders Kitchen. OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: The velvet curtained entrance; the smart, striped facade sets the tone; Fresh fare at Sanders Kitchen; a rough-luxe bathroom. AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17609/12/2019 05:50:39 PMSANDERS HOTEL A former ballet dancer doesn’t sound like the most likely candidate to open a boutique hotel, but Alexander Kolpin is Danish, so great design is in his genes. Add to that the fact that his father, Jes, is an architect, and the idea makes perfect sense. Together, father and son founded Kolpin Hotels: they started with two coastal properties in northern Denmark, but in 2017 turned their attention to a more urban milieu with the opening of the supremely elegant Sanders. A seasoned globetrotter, Kolpin junior has taken inspiration from the bygone era of luxury travel and blended it with a dancer’s sense of theatricality. He worked with London design studio Lind + Almond on Sanders’ interiors – they’ve collaborated with the likes of Soho House in the past – and the results are impressive. The hotel is located just behind the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen’s historic centre, and is surrounded by fi ne museums, restaurants and boutiques. It occupies a pair of 19th-century townhouses now linked together, with 54 guest rooms that range from singles inspired by luxury train cabins to spacious apartments with lounges and open fi replaces. Given Denmark’s cold, dark winters, fi replaces are a recurring theme, as is good lighting, which was designed to set a scene just as in a theatre. A 1940s Murano glass chandelier Three to See Nyhavn This iconic 17th century harbour is lined with wooden ships, multicoloured townhouses, and seafood restaurants. A must- see. nyhavn.eu Royal Library of Denmark The draws of one of the world’s largest libraries go beyond serene reading rooms. A recent extension, the polished marble Black Diamond, is a work of architectural art on the waterfront. kb.dk Rosenborg Castle Built in 1606 as a summer house by Christian IV, it is fi lled with regal treasures and works of art. Spend an hour or two walking in the footsteps of Denmark’s most noteable king. kongernessamling.dk makes a grand statement in the lobby, but otherwise it’s about subtle touches, such as wall sconces and glass pendants. The colour palette is a beautifully balanced mix of earthy neutrals and subtle accents like sage green. Warm woods and canework furniture hint at colonial-era interiors, with many pieces made bespoke in the style of graceful Scandinavian modernism. Every space feels very much like a private home, including the book-lined Living Room beside the lobby, where you can have coff ee by the fi re and admire some of the specially commissioned artworks that adorn the hotel walls. The Sanders Kitchen, a bistro with white tiled walls has rapidly become a hangout for locals as well as guests. Open all day, it has a simple menu based on fresh ingredients. Our favourite spot, though, is the cosy velvet- swathed Tata bar . Double rooms from around $320; hotelsanders.com P HOTO S: CH RIS TON N E NSE N AD_172-177_Escape_Copenhagen_11023028.indd 17709/12/2019 05:50:54 PM178 ES C A P E / S u it e D rea m s La Vie et Belle Design duo Lally Berger has transformed the Belle Etoile Suite at Le Meurice, the 18th century palace hotel in the heart of the French capital Words Ian Phillips Photography Stephan Julliard AD_178-181_Escape_Dream ticket_11090206.indd 17809/12/2019 05:52:41 PMThe marble-clad bathroom has a generous tub that looks out over a private roof garden. OPPOSITE PAGE: The breathtaking view of the Tuileries Garden from the Belle Etoile Suite at Le Meurice. AD_178-181_Escape_Dream ticket_11090206.indd 17909/12/2019 05:52:54 PM180 ES C A P E / S u it e D rea m s our way of working is to defi ne the codes of a space and to make them almost timeless,” explains Luc Berger, one half of the design studio Lally Berger. “We want people to not be sure if they’re entering a décor from the past or from the future. We like to play with that notion of space and time.” Berger met Margaux Lally while they were studying at the Ecole Supérieure d’Architecture Intéreure (ESAIL) in Lyon; afterwards, they both did work placements in the offi ces of the French decorator, Charles Zana. “Something really clicked while we were there. We loved his way of working with materials, his collaborations with craftspeople and his attention-to- detail,” recalls Berger, who was introduced to What was your starting point for the decoration of the suite? LB: We wanted to accentuate what makes this space so incredible and unique: its exceptional location. You have the impres- sion that you’re all alone in Paris with the city at your feet, and it’s as if all its monu- ments were there just for you. You never get tired of looking at them. Strangely, many of the windows were previously blocked up, even in the bedroom. ML: In the living room, there was just one door that gave access to the terrace, but you couldn’t even open it completely. We replaced it with fl oor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Now, every part of the suite is open to the outdoors and offers an incredible view of the rooftops of Paris. What kind of atmosphere were you trying to create? ML: We wanted each guest to be able to take possession of the suite, as if it were their own apartment. We used the architectural language of old Parisian mansions, most notably in the materials chosen: marbles, a chevron-patterned parquet, wood panelling, gilding, and bronze door handles. LB: It’s about refi ned luxury, which is visible in the details. We wanted to transmit a notion of entertaining and art de vivre à la Française. Our goal was to create a suite where you feel good and don’t want to leave. Did the architectural style of Le Meurice have an impact on the project? LB: We revisited the classical codes we found in the hotel’s other guestrooms and spaces. The idea was to feel as if you are in the same hotel, but in another era. We really wanted to create a grey area timewise and that translated into a traditional framework with some more contemporary touches. How have you connected the interior and exterior space? LB: The soaring view over the Tuileries Gardens gave us the desire to create a dialogue with the park. There are a few botanical references in the Suite. For example, the banister of the spiral staircase in the entry foyer has a branch motif and the chandelier above it has glass palmettes. ML: The way the Parisian sky changes throughout the day, and over the months and seasons also inspired us, essentially for the colour palette. We opted predominantly for blue-greys and greyish greens. Projects like this don’t come along every day. The satisfaction with the result is immense. dorchestercollection.com; lallyberger.com craftsmanship by his grandparents, who would take him on visits to carpenters’ workshops, pottery studios and the Baccarat crystal factory during school holidays. This passion for exceptional French craftsmanship can be seen in vivid relief at the duo’s latest project – a spectacular reimagining of the 250 sq/m Belle Etoile Suite at Hotel Le Meurice in Paris, which received the ‘Palace’ distinction from the French government in 2011. Housed on the top fl oor of the grand 18th century hotel, it offers exceptional views of Parisian monuments (including the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower) which have provided inspiration for the decor. The antechamber of the chic boudoir, for example, is painted with a cloud-like motif – a nod to Claude Monet’s Water Lilies in the Orangerie Museum which can be seen from the leafy terrace. Here, Lally Berger give us a tour of the elegant project. Margaux Lally and Luc Berger photographed in the elegantly appointed living area of the suite. AD_178-181_Escape_Dream ticket_11090206.indd 18009/12/2019 05:53:05 PMCLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The entry foyer features a handrail sculpted from bronze branches and a chandelier formed from crystal leaves; the 350sq ⁄m terrace was transformed with the help of French landscape architect Pierre-Alexandre Risser; a cocooning statement headboard in the master bedroom; the spacious living area has sweeping views. AD_178-181_Escape_Dream ticket_11090206.indd 18109/12/2019 05:53:25 PMNext >