J-J, Laura and Agata were joined on the two-day visit by fellow London-based designers from Morey Studio, BDG and Interior Architects.   

The trip began with a visit to Vipp Home, exhibiting Vipp’s vast range of products from their iconic bins to fully integrated kitchen systems.  

We then took to the water as we toured the city’s harbour by an electrically powered motor boat with Vipp’s CEO Morten Woldum and Sales Manager Philip Norgaard. The tour was testament to Denmark’s ability to harmonise beautiful design with innovation and technology. Sites included the Copenhagen Opera House, with its impressive 31m cantilevered roof, and Bjarke Ingels’ Amager Bakke, a waste-to-energy plant that doubles up as a ski slope.  

A building that stood out on the tour was Torpedohallen: a former boat repair plant now transformed into waterside housing. Inside the concrete and steel structure, self-supporting apartments frame a vibrant urban street that offers views of the canal. A remarkable example of adaptive reuse in an industrial building. 

One of the highlights of the trip included a visit to Vipp Loft, one of Vipp’s many Guesthouses, where we were greeted by Jette Egelund, Vipp’s founder’s youngest daughter. The day ended with a memorable dinner with Morten and Philip who shared stories of Vipp’s history, from its iconic bin originally designed for the founder’s wife’s hairdressing salon, to the latest addition to the Vipp universe: Vipp Guesthouses, beautifully curated accommodations set in distinct locations across the globe. 

The following day started with a breakfast tour at House of Finn Juhl, where we had the pleasure of discovering the legacy of one of the leading figures of Danish design. Guided by Christian Poulsen, we delved into the stories behind many of Juhl’s iconic chairs.

Favourites among the group included the Pelican Chair, a surrealist, organic shaped lounge chair that felt like a hug, and the Whiskey chair, a stylish and functional chair with a built-in brass tray to hold a handcrafted mouth-blown whiskey glass. It was evident that Finn Juhl designed furniture with a profound understanding of the human form. Each chair featured an exceptional blend of tactile, ergonomic design, with thoughtful details such as a thumb rest on the arms, demonstrating Juhl’s commitment to both comfort and craft.  

The trip concluded with a visit to the showroom of Malte Gormsen, a contemporary Danish cabinetmaker who honed his craft making furniture designed by Finn Juhl. Today, Gormsen specialises in fine cabinet making and bespoke joinery, combining traditional techniques learned from Danish design masters, with modern day technology.  

We toured the showroom peppered with cleverly designed demountable furniture, with live demonstrations from the team on how to assemble and disassemble the pieces for transportation. From here, we were invited to Gormsen’s workshop on the outskirts of the city. A shrine to natural materials, the workshop offered plenty to admire. From the impressive drying rack of logs to the meticulously curated materials library, it was clear that Malte’s team took great care in hand-selecting the finest timber to bring their furniture to life. We wrapped up a wonderful trip with a hands-on activity focused on timber surface treatments, where the team tried their hand at ebonizing wood.  

We return to London inspired by Juhl, Vipp and Gormsen – designers who believe the human body, comfort, experience, and future use are central to good design.  Curious to hear more about how this philosophy can transform not only interiors, but entire environments? Reach out, and let’s chat about how we can bring these human-centric design principles to your project.  

We thank Tollgard for an inspiring and unforgettable experience.