Swedish design studio Note recently opened its first international studio in Copenhagen. With the Danish capital now set to host this year’s edition of 3daysofdesign, Note is behind several exciting launches, exhibitions and projects. Three of the highlights happen in collaboration with Spanish Ondarreta, New Zealand’s Resident and Norway’s Vestre.
Basque exhibition in Note’s new studio
In the newly opened studio in the historic Prinsessegården building, Note presents an exhibition with Spanish furniture manufacturer Ondarreta. The exhibition, entitled ‘Sneak Peek’, is a new concept that aims to bring people closer together, create bonds and strengthen relationships – while providing an insight into Ondarreta’s world of form and colour. This concept is being presented for the first time in Copenhagen.
At the centre of the exhibition is the Supra chair series, designed by Note for Ondarreta, which has been placed in a pop-up café, complete with a barista, coffee machine, coffee, beer, wine and cakes straight from the Basque Country.
”We are using a yellow version of the chair, in the colour Raw Dune, which, together with our existing yellow cabinets on the walls, creates a warm yellow environment decorated like a café and a meeting place with several built-in bars. The installation is a presentation of Ondarreta as a brand and the unique environment they come from, while also giving us a chance to showcase our chair series in several different models in a powerful way,” says Susanna Wåhlin, partner and interior designer at Note, and manager for the new studio in Copenhagen.
The idea behind transforming the space into a social meeting place is to express Ondarretta’s mission of bringing people closer together through design. Although the exhibition is centred around the Supra series, other parts of the broader range will highlight Ondarretta’s commitment to craftsmanship, innovation and sustainability. The environment invites visitors to pause, make connections and experience the furniture in a relaxed, social setting that encourages conversation.
‘Sneak Peek’ is a Scandinavian nod to southern warmth, a place where design becomes a natural part of life’s interactions.
Resident makes its debut
In the space next to Note’s own studio, Note will present the exhibition ‘Viewpoint’ to introduce the New Zealand design brand Resident, which is making its debut at 3daysofdesign. Resident is known for its progressive and sculptural design, and the collection will be presented as a curated gallery where each product is displayed as a work of art in a refined environment.
”We are launching a series of chairs and lounge chairs for Resident, while also curating a larger presentation of Resident’s collection in the room. It will be a simple, distinct setting, almost like a gallery, where selected objects are elevated on green high-gloss podiums in a grid pattern on the floor,” says Susanna Wåhlin.
The exhibition design encourages visitors to walk around the objects and view them from different angles: one at a time, all at once or all from above. Note has also created a tall staircase that serves as a lookout tower in the room, inviting visitors to view the installation from above to see how the layout on the floor emphasises rows of shape and colour perfection.
Vestre’s takes over the Opera Park
Finally, Vestre is also behind Norwegian urban furniture producer Vestre’s large exhibition in the Opera Park – a vibrant green oasis on Copenhagen’s harbour front designed to complement the nearby Royal Opera House. Inspired by Danish landscapes, it blends nature, culture and sustainability with winding paths, lush vegetation and scenic views. The park serves as both a peaceful retreat and a dynamic venue for cultural events. For three days, Vestre will showcase furniture in this romantic, green park.
”The feeling of belonging is crucial to our identity and well-being. That’s why we started by asking ourselves the simple but powerful question: ‘What does it mean to belong, and how can design help create that feeling? The answer is that belonging thrives in environments that spark curiosity, invite interaction and welcome diversity,” says Charlotte Ackemar, product designer at Note, continuing:
”For Vestre’s exhibition in the Opera Park, we wanted to create such a space – a place designed to welcome. An environment where imagination leads to connection and where every element – furniture, layout and colour – encourages people to stop, engage and feel comfortable.”
When visitors enter the Opera Park, they are met by an explosion of colour and form – an experience designed to be both enveloping and effective, stimulating the visitor’s senses. Note has worked with large-scale elements, both vertical and horizontal, using bold colour fields as backgrounds and podiums. These fields serve several purposes: they create visual focal points, set the tone of the space and help guide visitors through the exhibition. The installation is divided into four different zones, each exploring the theme of belonging in different ways. Each zone has unique furniture arrangements that encourage interaction, connection and shared experiences between people.
”An important function of the colour fields is to frame Vestre’s furniture and visually distinguish it from the park’s permanent fixtures. This not only emphasises the temporary nature of the installation, but also respects and complements the park’s existing environment and design language. Ultimately, the goal is to create a space that feels alive and inclusive,” says Ackemar.
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