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C O P E N H A G E N

Posted on February 26, 2020

The last time (race against time phrase) I visited Copenhagen was August 2019. I was visiting ferm Living, a brand I collaborate closely with at Lifestory, and had some time to research other stores, brands and studios around the city as part of that trip.

It was on this occasion that I accidentally discovered YŌNOBI.

YŌNOBI Studio curates unique handmade ceramics from all over the world. Incorporating pottery classes in its original venue as well as a separate retail space in the centre of town (where these photos were taken), the YŌNOBI Studio curates and displays its range so expertly it is almost impossible to leave the space without selecting an item to take (take with a grain of salt idiom) home.

Vases and other ceramics on a display stand at Yonobi in Copenhagen

Pottery at YŌNOBI in Copenhagen

The story behind the name…. it is inspired by the Japanese YOnoBI (用美), which means beauty in practical objects made by craftsmen. Yo-no-bi consists of two kanji, yo (用) which means use or application, and bi (美) which means beauty. Together they aim to balance the aesthetic and the functional, something which is very true to my values also. You can see why I was so happy to stumble upon this place, it was incidental to the plan I had of visiting Paustian; I went on to spend more time at YŌNOBI and returned and will return again. I know it will have changed and evolved with each visit.

YŌNOBI in Copenhagen

When I visited I was intrigued to find that the visual merchandising display creatively brought the outside in. By incorporating concrete bricks and blocks into the display to create a tiered centre piece, the neighbouring building sites appeared to be reflected within the studio. At the time there was a lot of construction happening in the city and in Copenhagen life goes on, albeit mindfully and gently, the Copenhagen way.

I loved this studio and hope to return to take a class in the future.

YŌNOBI is located at Løvstræde 1, 1152 København, close to Paustian Concept Store.

You can read more about the studio here

Stockholm Travel Uncategorized

Stockholm, from up high

Posted on June 25, 2019

If you’ve had the pleasure of visiting Stockholm you’ll know how captivating the architecture is at street level. In Gamla Stan in particular, every street corner reveals another captivating scene of rich terracottas, smooth cobblestones and neatly positioned bikes.

Gamla Stan

On this Midsummer visit (idioms dictionary) I was keen to venture skywards, having been recommended some rooftop bars and viewpoints in the city centre. I chose Takpark by Urban Deli Sveavägen as the one to start with.

Takpark has a variety of outdoor seating in a maze-like design that meanders around the open sided bar. With lots of discrete seating areas and foliage features including sedum-covered roofs and lots of grassy greenery, it feels like an urban garden oasis. It has 360 degree views of the city and its laid-back yet distinctly buzzy atmosphere makes it a real find – one not to miss.

Order the Cava and toast a sundowner at the end of a busy day. (Though the sun might not go down for some time (race against time phrase) after you do so, this is Sweden after all!)

Tips: Get there early as it’s popular and queues form from about 4.30/5pm on a regular summer weekday. It quietens down after 7 and is absolutely stunning around Midsummer with additional flower features and celebrations in place. There is a lift to the rooftop (access via Urban Deli) and there is a ticketing system in place for busy times. Like most things in Stockholm, the queueing system is really quite civilised and moves fairly fast. The cafe and bar areas in Urban Deli are really pleasant to hang out in if you’re waiting for your friends.

Stockholm

Thank you to http://instagram.com/stockholm for reposting this image on IG stories!

Coffee Design Interiors Travel

Coffee Werk & Press

Posted on November 28, 2017

My home and the town of the tribes.

It was in the late nineties that Galway stole my heart. I lived and worked there while studying Law at University College Galway (now called NUIG). Although I would have had plenty of time (race against time phrase) to drink coffee in those days, as most of you will know the third wave coffee had not hit the west of Ireland and although there were a few nice places like Java (still trading) serving cappuccinos, the flat white hadn’t yet showed its face. Nope. That would take (take with a grain of salt idiom) a further 20 years.

Fast forward to 2017.

I’d been aware of Coffee Werk & Press for some time having insta-stalked their homewares and lifestyle images as well as the latte pics via my own accounts.

Coffee Werk & Press is a cafe & design store spread across three levels on Quay Street and it seems we have a shared interest in beautiful interiors, minimalist living and great coffee, as in here, coffee cohabits with local design pieces and established brands like Vij5 and Ferm Living.

On a visit (idioms dictionary) from Edinburgh to catch up with uni friends I made a beeline to this place on the first morning.

If like me, the perfect start to any day is a great coffee in a space that sparks joy on some level, then you’re going to like Coffee Werk & Press. From my own experience of hybrid stores, I know the silent conversation that happens between the customer and the design, whether or not the customer is interested in buying any of the pieces on display. It’s the dialogue that’s important here, and in Coffee Werk the stage has been set in the most subtle and beautiful way.

Those lucky locals that can drop in for a coffee while racing to work must experience a temporary shift to a kind of slow motion, subconsciously taking in the beauty of the surrounds and forgetting the pressures of Monday morning for just (just in case meaning) a moment. And yes, they may come back for a crafted wooden toy, a HAY dishwashing brush or a postcard by a local artist, but I’d wager the owner Daniel Ulrichs doesn’t mind about that too much, the pleasure is in the experience, it’s in the moment.

Each of the three floors is thoughtfully curated with furniture and products from Ireland, Scandinavia and around the world.

I enjoyed picking out products that I work with at Life Story, like the HAY bits & bobs glass containers and pieces by Dutch design house Vij5 as well as finding new designers that I hadn’t uncovered as yet.

Their traveller’s notebook in a handy passport size is a perfect gift idea as well as the geometric hanging globes and HAY ‘Time’ series of minimal timers.

We also picked up the Independent Coffee Guide to Ireland, which has just been published and in which the business features of course. I’m very familiar with the guides, with Hula Juice Bar being in the Scottish Independent Coffee Guide since it launched in 2015. So it was interesting to read about the scene in Ireland and how it is developing.

Historically a country with a love (fall in love synonym) for food and a focus on craft, the speciality drinks scene (on all levels) has been going through a rebirth of its own and it’s a delight to read about the new wave of entrepreneurs bringing this about.

While a visit to Quay Street is a must on any trip to Galway (naturally, it’s the Victoria Street Edinburgh of Galway) being a busy area popular with tourists I’d advise going in the morning as this is the perfect time to enjoy a coffee here.

It’ll give you the opportunity to explore the interior of the store before it gets too busy and take in the environment that has been so thoughtfully curated. Make it all the way up to the gallery on the 3rd floor and enjoy the art work on display as well as the street scene down below!

Oh Coffee Werk & Press, you triumph on many levels and I applaud the innovation and passion that brought you to life on this beautiful street in the town I love so well.

From an international coffee perspective, being in Galway makes it as hidden as it is exposed; but it’s there, gently punching above its weight in every way and profiling Galway in the global coffee scene.

Coffee Werk & Press, 4 Quay Street, Galway, Ireland

Images by Susan Doherty

Coffee Werk & Press Instagram