Architecture and design studio Spacon & X was enlisted to design the space for POPL, a new restaurant within the Noma family. Spacon & X’s design for Noma’s new burger restaurant is about finding an intersection between the new nordic world of Noma and the cross cultural modern stable that is the burger bar. 

We prioritised the customer experience while ensuring that a high turnover of seatings was possible. The natural material selection steered the design approach while we took the creative liberty to alter, innovate and redefine iconic motifs commonly found in burger bar settings - such as the booth configurations and robust modular dining tables. 

The warm, simple and striking interior designed by Spacon & X, including bespoke interior elements, handcrafted glass and paper lamps and artworks is paired with a collection of custom-made furniture by Spacon & X made in collaboration with e15. The main material palette consists of naturally oiled brown core ash wood combined with a warm palette of poppy reds, muted greens and meadow flowers to reflect both Denmark’s four seasons and POPL’s seasonal menu. 

In essence, the materials used in the process of creating the POPL space all possess various qualities along the lines of: longevity, durability and craftsmanship - reflecting the high quality of POPL’s own menu. The minimalist interior pairs custom elements, such as wooden furniture, exclusively designed by Spacon & X and produced in collaboration with German design pioneer e15, with bespoke artwork, handcrafted seaweed lamps made in collaboration with the Danish designer Jonas Edvard, and a warm color palette of poppy reds, dusty greens and meadow flowers to reflect Denmark’s four seasons and POPL’s seasonal menu. 

Honoring the integrity of natural elements, the restaurant’s ethos is expressed both through local ingredients on the plate and material honesty in the design. The custom made furniture illustrates simplicity and authentic artisanship in its archetypal structure. Crafted of brown core ash wood, the bespoke collection comprises chairs, stools, coat hangers and various tables, the latter featuring tabletops made out of Richlite, a durable composite of recycled paper and bio resin. As it is housed inside a former warehouse, the POPL space combines industrial elements with natural materials and textures to create an inviting space that generates warmth and comfort. 

Spacon & X transformed the 300 sqm expanse, enhancing the concrete pillars and brickwork of the original structure with a purposely built ‘plant bridge’ to highlight the height of the interior and to create a more intimate feel for diners below. A dynamic and flexible eating arrangement provides the possibility of arranging intimate zones within the high ceiling space. The handcrafted furniture and flexible seating arrangements - such as high-back and low upholstered seating in yellow leather - transport the look and feel of the classic American diner to the heart of Copenhagen.