Kinfolk Magazine's Sublime Copenhagen HQ by Norm Architects.

Launched in 2011, Kinfolk magazine disrupted the newsstand. With a minimalist design and strong aesthetic, the magazine advocated for creativity, a slower pace and quality of life over rampant consumerism, rat-race careerism and digital immersion. It was the project of Nathan Williams, then a 24-year-old Canadian expatriate living in Portland, Oregon—a poster city for a new generation questioning the status quo.

With the opportunity to immerse Kinfolk in the Scandinavian aesthetic and design ethos that has always resonated with its audience, also came a chance for the brand to connect with its strong, growing community of readers and contributors in Europe. Eschewing major global cities such as New York, Paris or London, Kinfolk’s recent move to Copenhagen, the quality-of-life capital, reaffirms its commitment to quality of life and considered living.

Designed by Danish studio Norm Architects, Kinfolk’s sublime new office space is influenced by both Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetic, resulting in a pared-back gallery and workspace in central Copenhagen. The interior embodies qualities of a home or a hotel lounge, rather than a typical office. Norm Architects have managed to strike the prefect balance between richness and restraint, creating a seemingly simple but visually complex space that feels good in every way.

The entire space is divided into three zones that progressively increase in privacy, starting from the entry. The first space is known as the Kinfolk Gallery—a multifunctional space designed to host events both large and small—whether dinners, workshops, exhibitions, intimate concerts or pop-up shops—the 200-square meter space is a place for Kinfolk’s friends and partners to come together, share their ideas and showcase their work.

The second space centres around a large meeting table, display timber shelving, as well as a lounge area that features a plush orange sofa and a glass coffee table. The big sitting nook in the corner is created with an inspiration from the Japanese tokonoma—a small space where one can curl up with a book or a laptop.

The final section is a open-plan workspace which is completely disconnected from the public areas. This space is furnished with banks of custom oak tables, featuring walls finished in textured plaster, giving the interior an earthy wabi-sabi quality.

The entire space is designed to be light and bright in the front area, gradually becoming darker and more intimate as one moves through a series of narrow openings that stretch from floor to ceiling, expanding the sense of height in the interior. Extreme love.