Living Lightly: An Intimate Conversation with Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen on Audo Copenhagen’s Subtle Brilliance.

In the heart of Copenhagen, Audo Copenhagen does something remarkable: it transforms design from a static pursuit into a living, breathing experience. More than a brand, it’s a movement - one that seamlessly merges craftsmanship, community, and lifestyle into a universe where every object tells a story. From the moment you step into Audo House, it’s clear this isn’t a showroom; it’s a space to linger, connect, and live with design. Every collaboration, every carefully chosen material, and every thoughtful form reflects a philosophy that values both heritage and quiet innovation, a soft minimalism that feels warm, human, and quietly radical.

What sets Audo apart is their ability to balance restraint with personality, producing pieces that are timeless yet alive, functional yet emotionally resonant. Take their table lamps, for instance. It’s not just light they provide - it’s an atmosphere, a mood, a moment of intimacy. Each lamp feels considered, tactile, and sculptural, offering a glow that transforms a room without ever shouting for attention. They embody the brand’s ethos perfectly - subtle, refined, and quietly commanding. We love them not only for their beauty but for the way they invite connection - turning a simple object into a ritual, a centerpiece, and a companion in daily life.

We sat down with Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen, Brand and Design Director, to explore how Audo Copenhagen cultivates a sense of home, narrative, and community through design - and how each object, from the grandest furniture to the humblest lamp, is crafted to live, evolve, and inspire.

Audo Copenhagen is known for merging design, community, and lifestyle into a cohesive whole. What is the secret ingredient that makes it feel more like a movement than just a brand?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Since opening Audo House in 2019, our vision has been to go beyond the idea of a traditional showroom. We wanted to create a space where people could not only see our designs, but also live with them and experience the Audo universe in a more holistic way. At Audo House, guests can sleep in our residences, dine in our café, and explore our collections in the concept shop, all under one roof. Collaboration is also key - we work with like-minded brands such as DUX, Aiayu, Dinesen, and St. Leo to ensure every detail reflects the same commitment to quality and aesthetics. Together, this creates something greater than the sum of its parts: a living, breathing design community.

You’ve spoken about the idea of “soft minimalism.” In a world where minimalism can sometimes feel cold or rigid, how does Audo Copenhagen keep things human, warm, and quietly radical?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Minimalism is often perceived as strict or sterile. Our approach, which we call soft minimalism, is about warmth, tactility, and a sense of calm. We work with natural materials, earth tones, and timeless forms that invite contemplation and harmony. Soft minimalism is adaptable: it belongs in both private homes and public spaces, and it evolves with the people who live with it. This philosophy makes design more human, creating environments that are not only functional but deeply nurturing.

The brand embraces both heritage and forward-thinking design. How do you decide which traditions to protect and which ones to disrupt?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Heritage is a foundation we deeply respect. Once something truly becomes a tradition, it is here to stay. For example, when we integrated heritage designs like The Tired Man into our collection, we embraced their legacy while bringing them into dialogue with contemporary pieces. At the same time, we are continuously building new traditions with our collaborators, from Norm Architects to Danielle Siggerud to Colin King. When a design resonates deeply and continues to inspire, it grows into something iconic over time.

Many furniture brands talk about timelessness, but Audo Copenhagen seems to design for a sense of place as much as for time. How do architecture and geography shape your design language?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Timelessness isn’t just about enduring form; it’s about creating designs that feel at home in many contexts, across time and geography. Our philosophy of soft minimalism - calm, natural, versatile - adapts to different architectural styles and cultures while retaining character. We see our designs as companions for life: pieces that move with people, travel across generations, and evolve as new chapters unfold. In that way, our work is always rooted in both place and time, while never bound by either.

Collaboration seems to be at the heart of Audo’s ethos. How do you curate these relationships without losing the brand’s voice?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Collaboration is the lifeblood of Audo. Many of our designers have worked with us for years, and those relationships naturally evolve - from designing a piece of furniture, to shaping a campaign, to co-creating an exhibition. We see them less as external collaborators and more as part of the Audo family. Staying true to our ethos is essential. My father founded the brand, and I carry that legacy forward, so the DNA is deeply ingrained. But collaboration brings fresh perspectives, keeps our voice clear, and makes it dynamic and alive.

When you design a piece, do you imagine it as an object in isolation or already see it living, breathing, and gathering stories in someone’s home or public space?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Almost always, I imagine a piece within its future context. Sometimes it begins with a very specific need, like Danielle Siggerud’s Androgyne Table, originally designed for a café and later expanded into a full collection. Other times, a design just instantly feels right, like Ted Synnott’s Volume Table. Every piece is meant to be lived with. We think about how it will age, adapt, and collect meaning as it becomes part of someone’s daily life.

Audo House isn’t just a showroom - it’s a kind of cultural salon. Do you see it as a blueprint for the future of retail, where experience, community, and design are inseparable?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Absolutely. From the very beginning, Audo House was conceived as more than a retail space. It’s a place where design and community meet. Now we’re bringing that vision abroad with our upcoming Audo House in New York. It won’t be a 1:1 copy of Copenhagen, but it will carry the same spirit: a place to experience design in context, feel its atmosphere, and connect with the community.

Scandinavia is often seen as the epicenter of functional, pared-back design. Do you ever feel a playful urge to subvert those expectations and add a little mischief?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Scandinavian design heritage is deeply rooted, so it’s difficult to shock people. But we like to challenge ourselves within that framework, whether through unexpected details, new materials, or bold collaborations. Sometimes the most radical act is staying true to your identity. Mischief comes in subtler forms - a quiet twist that makes people look twice. Colin King’s Interconnect Candle Holder is a perfect example - not typical Scandinavian, but it blends seamlessly into our universe.

Sustainability in design is often discussed in terms of materials, but longevity of desire is just as crucial. How does Audo create objects people won’t want to discard ten years from now?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: Sustainability begins with making things people want to live with for decades. We focus on natural, enduring materials and forms that don’t date. Equally important is emotional longevity - creating designs people connect with, that become part of daily rituals and memories. A truly sustainable piece is one you wouldn’t dream of replacing. Our table lamps, for instance, embody this perfectly - elegant, functional, and deeply engaging.

Finally, if Audo Copenhagen were a person at a dinner party, would it be the refined conversationalist, the quiet observer, or the one topping up everyone’s glass while telling a story with a wicked smile?

Joachim Kornbek Engell Hansen: I’d say Audo is the one bringing people together, topping up glasses, telling stories, and listening just as carefully as we speak. Warm, curious, quietly confident, but never the loudest in the room. We’re there to make everyone feel at home, to spark connection, and leave people with a sense that something meaningful has just been shared.

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Words and questions by AW.

Photos courtesy of Audo Copenhagen.