The first thing that you notice when you walk into The Audo, which is situated in an up-and-coming neighborhood in Copenhagen’s seaport district called Nordhavn, is that there is no sign-in area. There’s no iPad, no camera to capture your photo for a pass, no host asking whether or not you are a member or a guest of a member. In fact, The Audo is a completely free and open workspace concept, devoid of membership fees, snooty front-desk attendants, and VIPs who are, say, looking to have coffee to discuss investing in a new start-up. It is the first coworking space in the Danish capital and one that not only offers places to sit and work, but also spaces where you can host events, have breakfast or dinner, enjoy a cocktail, and even spend the night.
There is a shop, too, selling kitchenware, books, clothes, linens, and more. The restaurant, which will host temporary pop-up concepts and chefs, is currently called Birkemosegaard Køkken and serves a vegetable-focused, farm-to-table dinner menu. And of course, because it’s Scandinavia, everywhere you look the design is superb. At one point, the building housing The Audo was an old merchant house which was completely transformed by Norm Architects early last year. The sharp, minimally-minded interiors were crafted by Menu, a local Scandinavian design brand and showroom. The public space and residences are dotted with beautiful furniture and décor from the likes of Dedar, Aiayu, and August Sandgren. Fees are applied to those who rent the second floor work spaces for events. They also charge overnight guests for the spectacularly outfitted, marble, stone and wood beam-bedecked suites, The Audo Residences, of which there are 10. It’s pricey: rooms start at around $400 a night and are targeted at business travelers. I was lucky enough to spend the night at The Audo about a month ago and the experience was revelatory for a frequent visitor to Copenhagen.
The city is currently topping most if not all of the biggest “must travel in 2020” lists. It has charm, style, history, and a roster of world-famous culinary experiences. But curiously, there aren’t a ton of options when it comes to design-centric hotels. Copenhagen is home to some of the most covetable architecture, design, and interior aesthetics in the world, but there are only a small handful of accommodations that really emphasize this. While The Audo isn’t really a hotel by traditional definition — there is no room service, no real amenities, no spa, and no TVs in the rooms— it offers the chance to live, even just for one evening, in the best Danish style. I stayed in “The North Penthouse,” which has a 15-foot-tall ceiling, a sitting area with cushy ivory sofas and a wall-sized bookshelf decorated with art tomes and ceramic vases in earthy tones. The bed was giant and one of the softest I’ve ever slept on. When I arrived, a mini, modern stuffed bear toy sat on the bed with note welcoming me and saying he was mine to take home after the stay. A Nespresso machine was on hand in the room, as was a fresh bowl of green apples and a mini bar stocked with beverages. All of these things are free of charge with a room booking.
Inside the bathroom, a charcoal colored marble tub-in-shower (the tub was big and deep enough to practically swim in) was situated next to a small attic window, as well as a separate double sink and a smart toilet. The towels and robe were provided by Tekla, one of Copenhagen’s coolest linen brands of the moment. By New York standards at least, the suite felt like a nice-sized, light-filled apartment that had more hygge than anyone could dream of. The top floor of The Audo, where all of the suites were located, was quiet too. So was the coworking area itself, which still feels like a secret in a city about which there is so much global buzz.
After settling into my room, I went back downstairs to enjoy a snack, the Danish way: a cappuccino, several pieces of fresh sliced sourdough, a square of fresh butter and paper-thin slices of cheese. A well-dressed couple next to me was also enjoying coffee, looking at their phones and not speaking. A young man nearby typed away on a Mac, as did a few young patrons seated at the communal tables upstairs near the library. The Audo staff, all women from what I saw, spoke softly and laughed as they kept watch on the cafe and bar counter. The environment felt serene and calm, a perfect place to work without feeling the pressure of glaring eyes or the distractions of tech bros talking loudly on their airpods. This was an elevated coworking concept, a gorgeous hotel, and a place where, clearly, great ideas can be born.
Below, take a tour inside The Audo in Copenhagen.