Highlights from 3 Days of Design 2025 | Carl Hansen & Søn’s new showroom

Time for another highlight from last month’s 3 Days of Design festival in Copenhagen: the launch of Carl Hansen & Søn’s new flagship store and showroom, located on the historic street of Bredgade in the heart of the city.

The company has actually only moved a few doors down the road from its previous address at Bredgade 21-23, but it was clearly worth the effort. Dating from the 1790s, its latest home at number 33 is a Neoclassical townhouse that lists artists, naval captains, ambassadors, fine-art auctioneers and even poet Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, who penned the lyrics for the Danish national anthem, among its former occupants. It’s a lofty, light-filled space spread across three different levels, with a grand ground floor fronted by soaring arched windows, a cosier mezzanine above, and a secluded roof terrace at the rear. Together, they make the perfect backdrop for Carl Hansen’s collection of classic and contemporary Danish design, which spans pieces from the early 20th century through to the present day.

During 3 Days of Design the showroom played host to Framing Compositions, an immersive exhibition that explored how form, material, tradition and innovation have come together across different eras of design. On display as part of this were several creations by Hans J. Wegner, which are now being re-added to Carl Hansen’s Wegner portfolio after decades out of production. These included the CH261 swivel chair, which dates from 1948 and is one of the few swivel-based models ever developed by the mid-century modern pioneer, often dubbed the ‘master of chairs’ and among the first Danish designers to focus on ergonomics. The relaunched version consists of a sleek brushed-steel frame softened by an upholstered oak seat and largely stays true to the original, the only changes being the replacement of the height-adjusting spindle with an easy-to-operate gas lift cylinder and the addition of a fifth castor to comply with modern stability regulations.

Also re-emerging from the Wegner archives is the CH290 lounge series, first unveiled in 1962. It encompasses tall and low chairs, a sofa and a footstool, all combining wooden frames with removable upholstery that can be replaced as needed. I was very taken with the wide armrests and angled shapes, which have clear echoes of Wegner’s earlier – and now iconic – CH25 lounge chair.

Two other significant relaunches presented at the exhibition were groundbreaking design couple Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel’s ‘Vita’ sofa and ND55 coffee table, from 1952 and 1955 respectively. Named after their daughter, the sofa is made up of a sculptural shell that almost appears to float above the elegant wooden frame. The coffee table, meanwhile, has a drop-down extension leaf that can be lifted up and pushed in towards the centre to create more surface space. Both reflect the Ditzels’ innovative and gently playful approach, which broke with the strict functionalism of the 1950s.

Brand-new pieces on display included current-day Danish designer Anker Bek’s compact AB019 wall desk, which draws on his own experiences of living in tiny spaces and on the minimalist, functional ethos that he encountered during numerous visits to Japan. It combines a simple aesthetic with several practical features, including an optional drawer that can be fitted above or beneath the desk top, a handy opening for cables, and magnetic solid-oak caps to hide the mount screws.

Similarly ingenious, the ‘Embrace’ outdoor sofa series by Austrian studio EOOS took centre stage on the roof terrace. Designed for any setting, it consists of various woven back and armrests that slot into teak base units, allowing for all sorts of changeable configurations to suit gardens big and small. It’s a great addition to the existing ‘Embrace’ garden furniture range, and it made the perfect place to take a break from a hectic 3 Days of Design schedule with a glass of something chilled.

More from 3 Days of Design later in the week!

Images two, three, 11 and 16 courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn; all other photography by Abi Dare

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