Copenhagen, Denmark

Designed by architecture and studio Spacon & X, the new furniture collection by e15 was designed for POPL, a new restaurant in Copenhagen’s picturesque Christianshavn; a new place for everyone to come together with family and friends over the simple joy of a well-crafted burger.

For the project, the Copenhagen-based studio collaborated with e15 to unveil a range of custom-made furniture.

POPL’s minimalist interior pairs custom elements, such as wooden furniture with bespoke artwork, handcrafted seaweed lamps made in collaboration with the Danish designer Jonas Edvard, and a warm color palette of poppy reds, dusty greens and meadow flowers to reflect Denmark’s four seasons and POPL’s seasonal menu.

Housed inside a former warehouse, the POPL space combines industrial elements with natural materials and textures.

Spacon & X transformed the 500 sqm expanse, enhancing the concrete pillars and brickwork of the original structure with a purposely built ‘plant bridge’ to highlight the height of the interior and to create a more intimate feel for diners below.

A dynamic and flexible eating arrangement provides the possibility of arranging intimate zones within the high ceiling space.

The handcrafted furniture and flexible seating arrangements – such as high-back and low upholstered seating in yellow leather – transport the look and feel of the classic American diner to the heart of Copenhagen.

Acoustic panels lined with dried and compressed meadow flowers, cover the ceiling, while the flower’s subtle aroma exudes a harmonious scent.

Izakaya, the informal drinking establishments of Japan, inspired the design concept of the restaurant, while the name itself – derived from Latin word “populous” meaning “‘community of people” – reflects the spirit and heart of POPL.

Born out of Covid-19 and Noma’s summer pop-up, the restaurant aims to broaden the culinary horizons of the humble burger. This is subtly echoed in its design, which marries Japanese influences with Scandinavian aesthetics.

“We have always admired noma’s approach to its products – from the individual ingredients to the holistic experience, each element demonstrates great attention to detail,” said Malene Hvidt, architect and partner at Spacon & X.

“This is also how we approached the design for POPL – and the design of the custom-made furniture in the space. With attention and care for the details and with the goal to recreate the warm welcome noma is so well known for.” Malene Hvidt, architect and partner at Spacon & X.

Project: Spacon & X POPL
Architects: Spacon & X
Manufacturer: e15 Design and Distributions GmbH
Photographers: Bjørn Bertheussen and Spacon & X