02 INTRO

08 EDITOR'S LETTER

12 IMPRESSIONS
A three-dimensional assessment of Copenhagen as reported by numerous media outlets.

16 DIVE INTO THE CITY
Core values ​​and social and cultural heritage that help us understand Copenhagen today

28 INTERVIEW: CLAUS MEYER
Entrepreneur and chef Klaus Meyer talks about the current state of Copenhagen's culinary scene.

34 CREATIVE DINING
Copenhagen's creative dining scene stands out with its distinct originality and philosophy.

46 FOOD INNOVATORS
Food industry innovators taking forward-thinking steps across the food chain

54 THE ART OF HYGGE
La Bankina, a space that encapsulates the Danish spirit of "hygge," finding happiness in the little things in everyday life.

58 THE GOURMET GUIDE
A gourmet spot where you can enjoy brunch, coffee, and natural wine.

66 INTERVIEW: CECILIE THORSMARK
Copenhagen Fashion Week CEO Cecilie Thorsmark talks about Copenhagen Fashion Week's role as a platform.

72 WOMEN FOR WOMEN
Three teams of female fashion designers representing women's voices

84 THE SCANDI INFLUENCERS
Fashion influencers who promote a healthy and positive lifestyle.

90 THE AUTHENTIC TASTE
Fashion select shops and beauty brands loved by locals

98 INTERVIEW: THOMAS LYKKE & ANNE-MARIE BUEMANN
OEO Studio co-founders Thomas Rieke and Anne-Marie Boumann talk about the essence of Danish design.

104 HOME
Functionality and aesthetics of Danish living spaces

112 DESIGN DRIVEN VENTURES
The brand stories of Danish design companies Bib and Kvadrat, who don't dwell on past heritage.

120 CREATIVE FORCES
A brand, platform, and creative community that has grown with a sense of community.

132 DANISH SPIRIT
People who spread the Danish spirit and culture like seeds around the world.

140 DESIGN ICONS
Iconic designers and classic brands that have supported 'Danish Modern'

144 THE WEEKENDERS
Copenhageners leave the city and go deep into nature, where they can think and relax.

152 INTERVIEW: SIMON CASPERSEN
Simon Kaspersen, co-founder and communications director of Space10, talks about solutions for moving toward a more ideal city.

158 URBAN PLANNING
The evolution of Copenhagen's urban planning

162 SMART CITY
The Copenhagen Solutions Lab's journey focuses on collaboration, citizens, data, and experimentation.

166 BIG PICTURES
The urban landscape transformed by Copenhagen-based architect Bjarke Ingels and his team.

180 DANISH CULTURE CODES
Resources to understand Danish culture

183 OUTRO

This is the eighty-eighth issue of the magazine 《B》.

Since the pandemic, concerns about cooking choices have increased dramatically.
We take a conservative approach to things we have done out of habit, and we take a deep breath to re-evaluate them from time to time.
The subject of this re-examination also included the city issues introduced once a year by the magazine B.
I kept thinking about whether it was appropriate to publish a book on the city in a time when travel and movement are not free, and what kind of stories should be included if I published one on urban issues.
As a result, I ended up publishing this urban issue.
As a standard unit for enjoying living, cultural infrastructure, and a safety net, the city remains an indicator of quality of life and well-being. Perhaps, in this pandemic era, it is an opportunity to see the city's bare face, stripped of its touristic husk.


At this point, the Danish capital, Copenhagen, is an ideal case study for developing a discourse on cities.
Perhaps to the point where it could be considered overly predictable and exemplary.
Because it consistently ranks high in city surveys on happiness indices and quality of life, and its name appears like a monument to the leading role it played in creating the fantasy of the Nordic social model.
But the magazine B's choice of Copenhagen was influenced by a very 'personal' experience.
I remember it was around this time last year.
Less than four months after the pandemic was declared, the editors reached out to several people in several cities for interviews as they prepared the book The Home, a home-themed book.
But among them, the people who showed a noticeably warm welcome were the people of Copenhagen.
The first response they gave to my outreach email was usually something like this:
“What can’t you do?” “How can I help you?”

What difference would a city make if it were home to people who could maintain composure and infuse positive energy into their surroundings during a time of unpredictable chaos? This curiosity, which began with a few Copenhageners, naturally led to a curiosity about the city itself.
A natural desire arose to try to resolve that curiosity through the format of reporting.
Meeting many Copenhageners working in industries like food culture, fashion, design, and urban development helped me to somewhat satisfy my curiosity.
They have learned enough about satisfaction thanks to the well-organized systems of the country and city, and that satisfaction acts as a driving force for the city, like a kind of 'winning mentality.'
Just as an athlete who competes in a competition builds on their experience of victory, a strong conviction that they will achieve further success, the people of Copenhagen have a strong belief that they can successfully accomplish any task.
That belief is also replaced by a relationship of trust that binds communities and neighbors closely together.


“No matter how big your ambitions are, you have to start small and grow from there.” I think this sentence, from one of the conversations B Magazine had with many people in Copenhagen, defines the city quite well.
In reality, the changes and innovations that occur in various fields within Copenhagen are not centered around large capital or a small elite, but rather around 'individuals with ideas.'
This can also be seen as a well-trained ability to perceive problems in smaller units.
In a place once considered a barren land of gastronomy, experimental restaurants are popping up one after another, discussions about sustainable fashion are more active than in any other metropolis, and community-based lifestyle products are inspiring numerous businesses and brands. The city's every aspect is the result of a careful examination of life within the confines of one's own life and the accumulation of small efforts to improve it.


Editor-in-Chief Park Eun-seong