Locke Copenhagen | A-nrd studio

Award-winning London-based design practice A-nrd has completed the social and dining spaces at Locke Copenhagen. Located within the former postal district, currently undergoing a major transformation in the heart of Copenhagen, the project marks the studio’s first hospitality project in continental Europe, transforming the ground floor into a layered sequence of spaces designed for gathering, dining and everyday social life. For Locke’s first Scandinavian outpost, A-nrd set out to create an interior that bridges Copenhagen’s design heritage and the contemporary spirit of the surrounding district. Set within a striking new build characterised by expansive glazing, terrazzo floors and exposed concrete forms, the architecture presented a vast and monolithic shell. Rather than competing with its scale, the studio approached the interiors as an exercise in softening the architecture, introducing warmth and tactility through crafted furniture, textiles and art.

Known for creating immersive interiors that balance conceptual narrative with material depth, A-nrd leaned into the three pillars that guide and underpin Danish design culture -simplicity of form, a love of nature and the idea of home - while deliberately avoiding familiar clichés. Inspired by Postbyen’s ambition to become a greener urban oasis, the studio developed an interior defined by layered zoning, crafted details and an earthy palette drawn from Copenhagen’s architectural landscape. As such, the concept across the interior combines monolithic shapes with softer colour blocking and natural materials as a foundation. The reception acts as a bridge between historic Copenhagen and the emerging Postbyen district, while the restaurant and lounge introduce a softer, more planted environment and the café looks to Danish modernism through a stripped-back material language.

From the entrance, the reception establishes the tone for the interiors. Floor-to-ceiling glazing floods the space with natural light, revealing the building’s exposed concrete structure and terrazzo floor. At its centre sits a sculptural reception desk clad in blue-grey volcanic lava tiles by Made a Mano designed in Copenhagen and crafted in Italy. Rich in tonal variation, the handcrafted tiles reveal subtle shifts in colour and texture across their surface, creating a striking focal point against the surrounding architecture. Beneath, a timber base articulated with geometric bracing echoes traditional Danish architecture. Handmade table lamps by Findere sit on the reception desk, adding a soft layer of illumination. Nearby, a freestanding oak check-in kiosk rises from a stone plinth base in a soft peach tone, its stacked timber volume punctuated by recessed shelves and service openings. A sculptural articulated wall light in polished chrome by Copenhagen-based Hein Studio mounted above the kiosk casts a warm glow across the check-in area.

Around the desk, A-nrd has arranged a series of bespoke seating pieces designed specifically for the project. Crafted in dark oak with structured, graphic frames, the lounge armchairs incorporate generous timber armrests that function almost as integrated side tables. Upholstered in textured teal fabric by Mario Sirtori, the chairs are paired with chunky poufs in terracotta and ochre tones also by Mario Sirtori. Set across graphic rugs developed in collaboration with Warp Studio, where blue, rust and stone-coloured patterns introduce a strong visual rhythm against the terrazzo floor, the seating clusters forming relaxed lounge moments that soften the openness of the reception area. Irregular nested occasional tables by KØGE Design sit within the seating groups, while planting introduces further layers of texture and colour. A yellow textile artwork by Martha Skou adds a local layer to the interior. 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 environment where A-nrd subtly zones the expansive open-plan through a series of architectural joinery structures, rugs and seating clusters. A freestanding oak joinery structure rises from peach-toned stone plinth bases, its oak-clad form reading almost like a sculptural architectural element, introducing a human scale within the otherwise lofty interior. Around it, more upholstered poufs sit alongside bespoke lounge chairs designed by A-nrd in textured light-green fabric by BT Décor, set across graphic rugs in checkerboard and striped patterns. Marble occasional tables, floor lamps and planting further soften the concrete shell. A large wooden scultpure by Danish artist Tilde Grynnerup stands on a central plinth, anchoring the composition of seating and joinery while reinforcing the dialogue between contemporary art and interior architecture that runs throughout the project. Grynnerup has a personal connection to Postbyen - her father and grandfather worked in the district as postmen - making the presence of her work within the redevelopment particularly resonant.

Beyond this, bespoke banquette seating designed by the studio wraps around oak café tables, whose surfaces feature a small inlay motif repeated in varying forms throughout the interior. The seating is paired with dining chairs upholstered in green leather by Yarwood, while oversized table lamps by Santa & Cole introduce a softer layer of light within the open-plan space.

The lounge extends into a further seating pocket framed by a blackened steel wall that introduces a deeper tonal contrast within the otherwise warm palette of timber, stone and textiles. Built-in banquette seating continues here, paired with oak bistro tables distinguished by the same inlay detail. Leather lounge chairs with strap seats and backs designed by A-nrd, upholstered in rust- toned leather by Wildman & Bugby, sit alongside vintage Carlo Scarpa leather chairs, arranged across more geometric rugs, while graphic artworks by Copenhagen-based studio Hvass & Hannibal appear alongside further works by Grynnerup.

The lounge spare gradually gives way to the main restaurant, where A-nrd introduces a richer dining environment. The varying seating typologies and heights introduce a gentle rhythm to the space, allowing the restaurant to feel dynamic and varied depending on where guests choose to sit. Conceived as a ‘green oasis’ within the building, the restaurant combines natural textures, layered textiles and planting to soften the scale of the architectural shell while creating an atmosphere that feels organic and communal.

Near the entrance to the restaurant, a large bar forms the first focal point of the space. Clad in peach-toned linear stone panels and finished with a thick oak countertop left with a natural live edge, the bar introduces a tactile counterpoint to the industrial architecture of exposed concrete and structural steel. Sculptural bar stools line the counter; their cream and timber bases paired with upholstered green leather seats by Yarwood. Small ceramic bar lamps with linen shades developed in collaboration with Zonca Lighting sit along the countertop, casting warm pools of light across the timber surface. Behind the counter, sand-toned café curtains sit within timber-framed screens along the glazing, creating a gentle rhythm across the elevation and introducing a more human scale to the space. Wall lamps by Santa & Cole, with delicate stitch detailing, cast a warm glow across the fabric backdrop as the restaurant transitions from daytime dining to evening service. Nearby, further sculptural works by Tilde Grynnerup appear on timber plinths, introducing bold moments of colour within the room.

Central to the restaurant, a trio of crescent-shaped upholstered banquettes forms a distinctive seating cluster. Set on a continuous faceted timber base, the composition reads as a single sculptural element, with the sweeping upholstery and chunky plinth introducing a strong sense of rhythm at the centre of the room. Paired with round marble bistro tables and Daumiller dining chairs by GUBI, the seating introduces another distinct dining setting within the room. A cascading arrangement of Poulsen-inspired pendant lights designed by A-nrd diffuses light from above.

Further into the restaurant, the material language established at the bar echoes at an open kitchen counter, where the same peach-toned stone panelling and oak countertop continue. Positioned beneath a large stainless-steel canopy, the counter seating offers a more informal dining setting at the kitchen pass. Along the perimeter of the restaurant, sand-toned café curtains reappear as a recurring design device, this time curving around exposed concrete walls rather than glazing, along with planting they humanise the scale of the lofty interior by balancing the industrial architecture with warmth, texture and moments of calm.

Beyond the restaurant, the ground floor opens into a café bar where the palette shifts towards richer tones. The counter continues the project’s use of peach-toned natural stone, while the bar façade itself is clad in timber veneer by Tabu in a rich cherry hue. The veneer is articulated with projecting timber battens that form a sculptural relief across the front of the counter, further echoing the Danish architectural references which A-nrd nod to throughout the interior. Above the counter, a handmade paper pendant by Céline Wright introduces a softer glow within the space.

Seating adopts a more informal character, with back-to-back timber banquettes fitted with cushions upholstered in coral-toned fabrics by Mario Sirtori arranged around marble bistro tables, alongside leather dining chairs upholstered in cognac-toned leather by Wildman & Bugby. Along the curved concrete shell of the building, A-nrd has inserted a series of bespoke timber counter tables with integrated wall lighting by Phloc, paired with tall walnut bar stools to create relaxed perching spots within the café. Referencing Danish modernism and the quiet elegance of designers such as Hans Wegner and Børge Mogensen, the café combines a layered material palette designed to evoke the calm atmosphere of a neighbourhood bakery.

Locke Copenhagen reflects A-nrd’s approach to interior architecture: balancing material richness with spatial clarity while responding to the architectural context. From arrival, through the lounge, restaurant, and café, the ground floor unfolds as a series of interconnected environments that guide guests through the building.

Crafted furniture, textiles and art introduce warmth and tactility within the concrete interior, 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, where contemporary hospitality, local craft and Danish material sensibilities come together within a newly emerging urban neighbourhood.

On the project Alessio Nardi, founder of A-nrd, comments: “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. 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.”

As Locke’s first Scandinavian outpost, the project marks an important moment for the brand as it expands into Copenhagen’s rapidly evolving Postbyen area. Designed as an open, social space that welcomes both guests and the wider neighbourhood, the interiors establish a new hospitality destination within the emerging district while signalling A-nrd’s growing presence in European hospitality design.