Explorations on Danish Design
Words and Photos Tedrick Yau
May 30, 2025
Unexpectedly, I had an actual immersion in Scandinavian design. Denmark wasn’t initially on my annual Eurotrip but when a friend invited, I just said, “Why not?”. Of course I didn’t want to just visit tourist sites in a new destination. My plan was to better understand and appreciate Danish design through its history and philosophy while also learning how it has evolved through decades of change.
I arrived at Copenhagen in the early evening after a delayed flight. It took a few hours away from my trip but I made the most of the day. From the airport, I took the train to the København H or the central station and decided to just walk to my hotel. While on Vesterbrogade Street, I already saw the city and its architecture for the first time. It excited me! I was admiring the Renaissance and Rococo style buildings painted in earth toned hues.
The next day was filled with long leisurely walks around the city. I started at shopping street Strøget to look around for cute home decor. Copenhagen is a walking city and my next designations were all a stone’s throw away. My next stop was the Dutch Renaissance style Rosenberg Castle and its gardens which are the oldest royal gardens in Denmark. I took a pause to admire the vast area lined with lush trees and beautifully set flower patches. I also visited the Italian Renaissance inspired Copenhagen City Hall, exploring its Magistrate Hall and the marvelous paintings on the ceilings and walls. Inside was also the pretty interesting Verdensur or the late clockmaker Jens Olsen’s World Clock. The mechanical clock gives not just local time, but also solar time, sunrise and sunsets, etc.
Before going to Copenhagen, there were two places that I really wanted to visit. Papirøen or The Paper Island was once a warehouse site for paper storage. It is an eye-catchy, modern architectural structure that stands not just as a housing and lifestyle center, but also as one of the most visited tourist attractions in Copenhagen. From there, I walked to Nyhavn to see the vibrant and colorful houses that lined the wharf. Once a busy commercial port, it has now become a postcard worthy spot filled with restaurants and bars for people to unwind by the canal.
My favorite meal during the entire trip was my Danish lunch at Restaurant Karla. It was highly rated with an extensive menu. For starters, I opted for the Pickled Herring with Capers and Tartar Sauce. I loved the mild saltiness and soft texture of the herring that was complemented by the creamy and savory sauce. The highlight was the roast pork served with different vegetables and gravy. It was tasty and juicy with crunchy skin and tender meat. A cold glass of local Svaneke beer completed my meal.
On my last night, I made it a point to visit the Danish Architecture Center. The “So Danish!” exhibition recounted the long history of Denmark’s architectural evolution from its beginnings with viking houses made of wood, to the emergence of sun-dried and fired clay to create bricks - a material that has weathered the test of time and is still seen in their many structures. I greatly admired the evolution and influences of their designers through different periods, eventually creating the contemporary and functional designs from buildings, furniture, lighting, etc. that the country has now been known for. The exhibit also puts a spotlight on the Danish approach of respecting both material and environment but still keeping in mind the value of artistry and aesthetics.
It was a short trip but what I experienced was nothing short of an amazement to finally discover and appreciate Denmark’s rich history, design, and perspective.
