Brand Documentary Magazine

Magazine B No.88 COPENHAGEN

Category

Magazine

Publisher B Media Company | 170 X 240mm, 192 pages

Price KRW 19,000 | ISBN: 979-11-6036-136-0 (03050)

Date of Publication Nov 2, 2021

Editing and Marketing B Media Company

■ About the Publication

Magazine B

is an ad-free monthly publication that dedicates each issue to one well-balanced brand unearthed from around the globe.

The magazine introduces the brand’s hidden stories, as well as its sensibility and culture, and is an easy but also serious read for anyone with an interest in brands.

■ About the Issue

Welcome to the 88th issue of B.

After the onset of the COIVD-19 pandemic, choosing topics for B has become challenging. We took a more conservative approach on what B has done so far, catching our breath to really reflect. This soul-searching extended to our annual city issue, with our editors contemplating whether it would be appropriate to even publish an issue about a global city at a time when travel is heavily restricted, or what content, if published, we could feature in the issue. In the end, we ran with it. Why? Because cities are a unit of measurement for lifestyle, cultural infrastructure, and social safety nets, and they are a standard by which quality of life and happiness are measured. As the pandemic rages on, today provides a chance for us to see the true character of a city, stripped of the glamour and distractions of tourism.

In this sense, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is the perfect city for us to cover—so perfect that some might say it is incredibly predictable or even prosaically idyllic since the city has consistently topped surveys on happiness and quality of life and is a name that falls on our ears like a fantastic legend that singlehandedly created the archetype of the utopian Nordic welfare model. But B chose Copenhagen for other reasons, which were largely influenced by the editors’ experience in the city. It was around this time last year when B was preparing for The Home special issue. It was less than four months into the outbreak of the pandemic. Our editors requested interviews with people in cities across the globe, and of those, it was Copenhageners who showed us the most enthusiastic and warm reception. Indeed, they replied quite simply:

“Of course! Why not?”

“Sure! How can I help you?”

What is it that makes an entire city of people keep calm and inject positive energy into their surroundings in this time of grave uncertainty and entropy? Our curiosity was piqued by those first few Copenhageners we met, and this naturally led to an intense desire to know more about the city, digging deep into the city for coverage. I partially satiated my curiosity while speaking with Copenhageners in the culinary arts, fashion, design, and urban development. It seems that they all report feeling satisfied thanks to the highly organized, efficient national and municipal systems, which in turn, serve as driving forces behind unique cosmopolitan dynamics like having a “winning mentality.” Just like an athlete can keep winning competitions as they ride the wave of previous victories and strong self-belief, Copenhageners also unequivocally believe in themselves and such belief is turned into reliable relationships that closely bond communities and neighbors.

“No matter how big your ambition is, you need to start small and gradually nurture it.” I think that this statement, among other morsels of life wisdom we heard from Copenhageners, best epitomizes the city. Case in point: innovations across various fields in the capital city are spread by individuals with brilliant ideas rather than large amounts of capital or a select group of elites. It seems like the people there are well-trained to grapple with issues by looking at small units and making incremental change. Trailblazing restaurants have sprung up in a place that used to be perceived as a gastronomic hinterland, the issue of sustainable fashion is more hotly debated in Copenhagen than any other city across the globe, and lifestyle products with an emphasis on community continue to inspire corporations and brands. These are the grand results of many individuals and many small efforts to thoroughly reflect on life and make improvements.

Eunsung Park

Content & Editorial Director

■ Table of contents

02 INTRO

08 EDITOR'S LETTER

12 IMPRESSIONS

Multilayered assessments on the city of Copenhagen by a host of media outlets

16 DIVE INTO THE CITY

Core values and sociocultural legacies that give an insight into Copenhagen today

28 INTERVIEW: CLAUS MEYER

Claus Meyer, entrepreneur and chef, talks about today’s culinary scene in Copenhagen

34 CREATIVE DINING

The distinctive originality and philosophy of Copenhagen’s dining

46 FOOD INNOVATORS

Food labs and companies breaking new ground for the future of food

54 THE ART OF HYGGE

La Banchina, an on-trend location that epitomizes hygge of the Danes, who find happiness in daily life

58 A DAY OF GOURMET

Gems where brunch, coffee, and natural wine can be savored

66 INTERVIEW: CECILIE THORSMARK

Cecilie Thorsmark talks about the role of Copenhagen Fashion Week as a platform

72 WOMEN FOR WOMEN

Women fashion designers that give voice to all women

84 THE SCANDI INFLUENCERS

Fashion influencers committed to spreading healthy, positive life attitudes

90 THE AUTHENTIC TASTE

Fashion select shops and beauty brands loved by Copenhageners

98 INTERVIEW: THOMAS LYKKE & ANNE-MARIE BUEMANN

Thomas Lykke and Anne-Marie Buemann, cofounders of OEO Studio, talk about the quintessence of Danish design

104 HOME

The potential and aesthetic of the Danish home

112 Design-Driven VENTURES

Brand stories of Kvadrat and Vipp, Danish design companies that refuse to dwell on past legacies

120 CREATIVE FORCES

Brands that serve as both a platform and a creative hub based on a sense of community

132 DANISH SPIRIT

Expat Danes disseminate the Danish spirit and culture

140 DESIGN ICONS

Iconic designers and classic brands that have sustained the “Danish modern” look

144 THE WEEKENDERS

The natural landscapes that immerse Copenhageners in musings and relaxation

152 INTERVIEW: SIMON CASPERSEN

Simon Caspersen, cofounder and communications director of Space10, talks about creating an ideal city

158 URBAN PLANNING

The history of Copenhagen’s urban planning

162 SMART CITY

Copenhagen Solutions Lab focuses on collaboration, citizenship, data, and experimentation

166 BIG PICTURES

How Copenhagen-born architect Bjarke Ingels and his team transformed the landscape of the city

180 DANISH CULTURE CODE

Figures that offer a better understanding of Danish culture

183 OUTRO

■ Content Images

P 10 – Contents

P 20 – Landmarks

P 24 – Unconventional Food Scene

P 54 - The Art of Hygge

P 62 – The Aesthetics of Togetherness

P 76 – Women for Women(Cecilie Bahnsen)

P 94 - Humanistic Design

P 140 – Design Icons

P 144 - The Weekenders

P 148 – Sustainable City