The Audo, Copenhagen

In Nordhavn, Copenhagen’s former industrial harbour area, fresh life has been breathed into an early 20th century neo-baroque building. The Audo, as it is now known, hosts and celebrates human encounters in the digital era. Bjarne Hansen, founder of Danish design studio MENU, and Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, co-founder of Norm Architects, designed The Audo as a hybrid space, a platform to bring together local and international creatives – for a drink, for food, for a project or quite simply to share an aesthetic experience.

The Audo acts as a platform and features a restaurant, café, a place for collaborations and events, a concept store and so much more. However, international visitors will regard it above all else as a sensational residence; each of the ten rooms is individually designed in the warm ‘soft minimalism’ Norm Architects is known for. The modest, elegant aesthetics are also reflected in the bathrooms. Norm opted for AXOR Uno taps here. One bathroom even features an AXOR Signature customisation: a floor-standing AXOR Uno bath filler transformed into a rim-mounted bath filler with the perfect fit. It’s safe to say Norm has taken full advantage of the benefits of the range of AXOR FinishPlus surface finishes here.

Luxurious shower fitted with AXOR ShowerHeaven.

Each room elicits a different atmosphere, a different landscape, through the choice of materials and colours. AXOR Uno goes with everything, whether it’s in Brushed Black Chrome for a ‘lunar’ look or in Brushed Bronze for a ‘dense forest’ feel. Other surface finishes include Brushed Brass and Stainless Steel Optic. Alongside AXOR Uno, the rooms have been fitted with AXOR Showers products such as the 350 overhead shower with the cocooning PowderRain jet. The penthouse rooms boast luxurious showers such as the AXOR ShowerHeaven. Downstairs, the kitchen features AXOR Citterio kitchen taps in the extravagant Semi-Pro version.

Luxurious bathroom fitted with the AXOR Uno collection.

“Danish architects tend to always use the same local brands. I thought it would be interesting to try out something different.” This is why Hansen chose AXOR. His company, MENU, has become a major global player in modern designs. “We were in close cooperation,” added Bjerre-Poulsen, “and we were impressed by the many wonderful surface finishes AXOR had to offer. We wanted a different material and colour palette for each floor and each room. We instinctively opted for various surface finishes that added meaning to each universe. I think AXOR is right on the mark when it comes to tonality and surface finish. Something that is extremely difficult to achieve.”

By blending the boundaries between work, shopping, home life and hospitality, The Audo promotes a new kind of creative exchange. AXOR plays a major role here. The approach can be nicely summed up by a Latin phrase. The very same phrase that inspired The Audo’s name: Ab Uno Disce Omnes. From one learn all.