¡á Table of contents02 INTRO08 EDITOR'S LETTER12 IMPRESSIONSMultilayered assessments on the city of Copenhagen by a host of media outlets16 DIVE INTO THE CITYCore values and sociocultural legacies that give an insight into Copenhagen today28 INTERVIEW: CLAUS MEYERClaus Meyer, entrepreneur and chef, talks about today¡¯s culinary scene in Copenhagen34 CREATIVE DININGThe distinctive originality and philosophy of Copenhagen¡¯s dining46 FOOD INNOVATORSFood labs and companies breaking new ground for the future of food54 THE ART OF HYGGELa Banchina, an on-trend location that epitomizes hygge of the Danes, who find happiness in daily life58 A DAY OF GOURMETGems where brunch, coffee, and natural wine can be savored66 INTERVIEW: CECILIE THORSMARKCecilie Thorsmark talks about the role of Copenhagen Fashion Week as a platform72 WOMEN FOR WOMENWomen fashion designers that give voice to all women84 THE SCANDI INFLUENCERSFashion influencers committed to spreading healthy, positive life attitudes90 THE AUTHENTIC TASTEFashion select shops and beauty brands loved by Copenhageners98 INTERVIEW: THOMAS LYKKE & ANNE-MARIE BUEMANNThomas Lykke and Anne-Marie Buemann, cofounders of OEO Studio, talk about the quintessence of Danish design104 HOMEThe potential and aesthetic of the Danish home112 Design-Driven VENTURESBrand stories of Kvadrat and Vipp, Danish design companies that refuse to dwell on past legacies120 CREATIVE FORCESBrands that serve as both a platform and a creative hub based on a sense of community132 DANISH SPIRITExpat Danes disseminate the Danish spirit and culture140 DESIGN ICONSIconic designers and classic brands that have sustained the ¡°Danish modern¡± look144 THE WEEKENDERSThe natural landscapes that immerse Copenhageners in musings and relaxation152 INTERVIEW: SIMON CASPERSENSimon Caspersen, cofounder and communications director of Space10, talks about creating an ideal city158 URBAN PLANNINGThe history of Copenhagen¡¯s urban planning162 SMART CITYCopenhagen Solutions Lab focuses on collaboration, citizenship, data, and experimentation166 BIG PICTURESHow Copenhagen-born architect Bjarke Ingels and his team transformed the landscape of the city180 DANISH CULTURE CODEFigures that offer a better understanding of Danish culture183 OUTRO

¡á About the IssueWelcome to the 88th issue of B. After the onset of the COIVD-19 pandemic, choosing topics for B has become challenging. We took a more conservative approach on what B has done so far, catching our breath to really reflect. This soul-searching extended to our annual city issue, with our editors contemplating whether it would be appropriate to even publish an issue about a global city at a time when travel is heavily restricted, or what content, if published, we could feature in the issue. In the end, we ran with it. Why? Because cities are a unit of measurement for lifestyle, cultural infrastructure, and social safety nets, and they are a standard by which quality of life and happiness are measured. As the pandemic rages on, today provides a chance for us to see the true character of a city, stripped of the glamour and distractions of tourism. In this sense, Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, is the perfect city for us to cover-so perfect that some might say it is incredibly predictable or even prosaically idyllic since the city has consistently topped surveys on happiness and quality of life and is a name that falls on our ears like a fantastic legend that singlehandedly created the archetype of the utopian Nordic welfare model. But B chose Copenhagen for other reasons, which were largely influenced by the editors¡¯ experience in the city. It was around this time last year when B was preparing for The Home special issue. It was less than four months into the outbreak of the pandemic. Our editors requested interviews with people in cities across the globe, and of those, it was Copenhageners who showed us the most enthusiastic and warm reception. Indeed, they replied quite simply: ¡°Of course! Why not?¡± ¡°Sure! How can I help you?¡± What is it that makes an entire city of people keep calm and inject positive energy into their surroundings in this time of grave uncertainty and entropy? Our curiosity was piqued by those first few Copenhageners we met, and this naturally led to an intense desire to know more about the city, digging deep into the city for coverage. I partially satiated my curiosity while speaking with Copenhageners in the culinary arts, fashion, design, and urban development. It seems that they all report feeling satisfied thanks to the highly organized, efficient national and municipal systems, which in turn, serve as driving forces behind unique cosmopolitan dynamics like having a ¡°winning mentality.¡± Just like an athlete can keep winning competitions as they ride the wave of previous victories and strong self-belief, Copenhageners also unequivocally believe in themselves and such belief is turned into reliable relationships that closely bond communities and neighbors. ¡°No matter how big your ambition is, you need to start small and gradually nurture it.¡± I think that this statement, among other morsels of life wisdom we heard from Copenhageners, best epitomizes the city. Case in point: innovations across various fields in the capital city are spread by individuals with brilliant ideas rather than large amounts of capital or a select group of elites. It seems like the people there are well-trained to grapple with issues by looking at small units and making incremental change. Trailblazing restaurants have sprung up in a place that used to be perceived as a gastronomic hinterland, the issue of sustainable fashion is more hotly debated in Copenhagen than any other city across the globe, and lifestyle products with an emphasis on community continue to inspire corporations and brands. These are the grand results of many individuals and many small efforts to thoroughly reflect on life and make improvements.Eunsung Park Content & Editorial Director