boconcept and BIG present nawabari collaboration in renovated copenhagen offices

With its new Copenhagen headquarters, Danish architects, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, is setting new standards for flexible and sustainable office interiors. The newly constructed space is enhanced with BIG’s sculptural new furniture collection, Nawabari, a collaborative creation with global design brand, BoConcept.

‘When starting out with this collection, we were trying to find a new way of expressing furniture which somehow seems like an impossible task’, says Bjarke Ingels in a recent video shot in the brand-new BIG headquarters in Copenhagen

all images courtesy of BoConcept unless otherwise stated

Surrounded by water and with a distinctly energetic vibe, Danish architecture studio, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, has based its new headquarters in Copenhagen’s flourishing harbor district, Nordhavn. With its newly constructed office building, the design pioneers are striving to showcase the art of blending technology, innovation and creativity while also designing a space that nurtures inventiveness and fosters a sense of community in the workplace.

The shift towards flexible office environments is a growing trend, with an increasing number of companies realizing the benefits of being able to customize office spaces that cater to different ways of working. Although structure and support remain essential pillars in the professional framework, it is freedom and flexibility that drive autonomy and happiness.

Nawabari poufs in various sizes and colors are dispersed in one corner of the new headquarters of Danish architecture office BIG. The informal arrangement encourages casual interactions. Photo: Rasmus Hjortshøj

Nawabari, designed to create flexible social spaces

Combining BoConcept’s simplicity and elegance with BIG’s future-thinking aesthetic and sense of purpose, the new Nawabari collection is designed to bring people together and transform social spaces. The components of the collection can be used individually as standout pieces or grouped together to create a standalone area. As such, different elements of it have been placed around the BIG HQ to foster both creativity and well-being.

‘When designing furniture, creating comfortable environments is one of the most important missions’ 

‘When designing furniture, creating comfortable environments is one of the most important missions,’ says Jakob Lange, Partner and Head of Products at BIG. ‘At BIG, we design objects that don’t demand too much attention and that can be matched together with other objects to create calm and soothing environments.’

The Nawabari collection is available in a diversity of different fabrics and colors. The mix of tones underlines the playfulness of the design

Intriguing shapes invite diverse use

The Nawabari collection consists of two sofa sizes, an armchair, two coffee tables and two pouf sizes, thoughtfully designed to be arranged in diverse constellations and for a wide range of interiors. The entire collection shares a unifying design language inspired by the simple concept of binding ropes around a sponge and discovering what sculptural expressions could be created. As a result, Nawabari presents intriguing shapes which call for social interaction and mixed types of use.

Whether in a hotel foyer, an office space or a residential setting, the different elements from the Nawabari collection work harmoniously together, allowing for the creation of comfortable corners in a variety of different contexts

Hedonistic sustainability

Ingels presented his concept of ‘hedonistic sustainability’, promoting the idea that environmental responsibility will not only be better for the environment, but also more beautiful and fun to work in. The Nawabari collection has evolved out of this thinking as well. The sofas, armchair and poufs are all Greenguard certified when upholstered in the Blend fabric, produced by Danish manufacturer Gabriel, and carrying the EU Ecolabel and STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX.

Ingels presented his concept of ‘hedonistic sustainability’, promoting the idea that environmental responsibility will not only be better for the environment, but also more beautiful and fun to work in

As a united force, BIG and BoConcept propose a way of thinking and improving future interior environments. ‘BIG’s commitment to sustainable materials aligns perfectly with our vision for a more environmentally conscious future’, says Claus Ditlev Jensen, Collection and Visuals Director at BoConcept. By lowering the risk of harmful substances, the duo is taking an important step in a direction which many companies wish to follow, providing their employees and visitors with a healthy and sustainable indoor climate.

Sitting on the new Nawabari three-seater sofa, architect, founder and creative director at BIG, Bjarke Ingels, in conversation with Partner and Head of Products, Jakob Lange

The Danes are renowned for their informal office culture and with Nawabari, BIG and BoConcept are further elevating this culture and tradition, emphasizing the importance of adaptable and multipurpose interiors.

Find out more about BoConcept and BIG’s collaboration

Guest Feature by Sisse Bro | Architonic