A-nrd studio has transformed the ground floor of aparthotel Locke Copenhagen into warm, layered spaces designed for gathering, meeting and dining
The ground floor – which houses the lounge, restaurant and café – unfolds as a series of interconnected environments that guide guests through the building. Crafted furniture, textiles, greenery and art introduce warmth and tactility within the concrete interior of the newbuild, creating spaces that feel social and distinctly human in scale. The approach reflects both Copenhagen’s design heritage and the evolving character of the Postbyen district.
The building is characterised by expansive glazing, terrazzo floors and exposed concrete forms, so the architecture presented a vast shell. Rather than competing with its scale, the studio worked to soften the space, introducing warmth and tactility with nods to Scandinavian design traditions. There’s plenty to please the eye here – from a sculptural reception desk clad in blue-grey volcanic lava tiles to bespoke seating designed specifically for the space. Crafted in dark oak with structured, graphic frames, the lounge armchairs, designed by A-nrd, incorporate generous timber armrests.
Seating clusters soften the open space, with artworks by local artists and vintage Carlo Scarpa leather chairs adding interest. Semi-sheer terracotta-toned curtains by Kvadrat run across the glazing, filtering daylight while also functioning as flexible room dividers that allow parts of the space to be screened or opened depending on use.
Moving deeper into the ground floor, the interior unfolds into a relaxed lounge where A-nrd subtly zoned the expansive open plan with a series of architectural joinery structures, rugs and more generously upholstered seating. The space gradually gives way to the main restaurant, which features a large bar of peach-toned stone panels and a thick oak countertop, as well as semi-circular banquette seating. A cosy cafe offers a spot for quick bites.
“The building gave us an extraordinary architectural volume to work with – very open, very powerful. Our challenge was to introduce warmth and intimacy without diminishing that sense of scale,” says Alessio Nardi, founder of A-nrd. “We looked closely at the values that underpin Danish design – simplicity, material honesty and the idea of interiors as places of comfort and gathering – and translated those into a contemporary hospitality setting. The project sits within Postbyen, a new district emerging in the centre of Copenhagen, so it was important that the interiors felt grounded in the city’s design culture while also bringing a softer, more human atmosphere to the space.”
Photography by Cody Bamford
View A-nrd studio’s website for more information here.
