Kasper Bjørke and Fie Paarup, with their young son. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
Art and armchairs are two of the couple’s passions – featured are Børge Mogensen’s classic design, The Spanish Chair and a daybed designed by Poul Volther, as well as artworks by John Copeland (rear wall) and Landon Metz (right). Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
Above the dining table hangs a Tube Chandelier by Michael Anastassiades. The pair have collected an array of dining chairs by Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Hans J Wegner and Charles and Ray Eames. Hanging on the walls are artworks by (left to right) Landon Metz, Geoff McFetridge, Eddie Martinez, Matthew Stone and Asger Carlsen. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
Fie sits on a Y Chair by Hans J Wegner. Artwork is by Danish fashion designer, Henrik Vibskov and Danish graphic designer Andreas Emenius, photographed by Alistar Wiper. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
Adding to their chair collection is Hans J Wegner’s Flag Halyard design. The lamp is by Verner Panton, and artwork by Hrafnkell Sigurdsson. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
The couple’s wooden bed is by Studioilse, while the lamp is one of Fie’s vintage finds. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
The couple’s bedroom is sparsely furnished with side tables by FOS. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
The best thing about the apartment? ‘The light coming through the big windows in the three combined rooms facing the street,’ says Fie. Photography: Anne Mie Dreves
Danish producer, DJ and manager, Kasper Bjørke, is one of electronic music’s most tantalising talents. He recently translated this industry-wide esteem into a collection of luxuriant re-workings of his acclaimed fourth studio LP, After Forever (2014) with contributions from the likes of Michael Mayer, Superpitcher and Colder.
Bjørke shares a spacious apartment in Copenhagen’s Frederiksberg neighbourhood with his partner, ex-model Fie Paarup – who is currently studying Spatial Design, Perception and Detail at the city’s Royal Academy of Design and Architecture – and their tiny son.
The pair found their nine-room home six years ago when friends tipped them off about a space coming up in a 1889 building, designed by Danish architect Ole Boye. ‘When we saw the apartment we knew right away,’ says Fie. ‘We came from a 78sqm home and fell over backwards when we walked around those huge rooms. We were already talking interior possibilities as we left.’
Kasper and Fie share the yellow-tile-clad building with an assortment of creative professionals and a handful of small companies.
What makes this apartment feel like home to you?
Kasper: After spending a couple of years working out the right layout, we have managed to make it a functional home where we can enjoy all the rooms. But we do change around details like art and furniture – we might never stop doing that.
Fie: Despite being 240 sq m and having very high ceilings, it still feels cosy and warm.
What do you love most about it?
Fie: The light coming through the big windows in the three combined rooms facing the street. I’ve always been especially drawn to light.
Kasper: It gives me the perfect work and private space combination. I have meetings here, an office and also my studio. Because of the high ceilings, the acoustics are mostly horrible, so I chose the smallest room for my studio as it has a lower ceiling. Then I added carpets and acoustic padding.
Fie, do you use any of the rooms to work out your design ideas?
I have a workspace where I get ideas and draw. I’m interested in how you change the atmosphere and perception of space by stimulating the senses with sound, light, smell and materials. Sometimes I build models and carry out experiments here.
Do you have a shared aesthetic that leads you to seek out pieces from certain movements?
Kasper: We are both attracted to the Modernist period, especially classic furniture designers such as Saarinen, Eames, Jacobsen, Wegner and Mogensen. When it comes to art, I am really into both Expressionist and Minimalist pieces.
Fie: Yeah, but I also get more attracted to weird objects found at flea markets than Kasper does. Sometimes he removes the ones that I place around the apartment…
What are your most beloved possessions?
Fie: The blue Togo chair by Michel Ducaroy and our huge bed by Ilse Crawford.
Kasper: I cherish all of the art in our apartment, especially the big, abstract Landon Metz in our living room, which gives the whole space a calm feeling that I really like. And the Flag Halyard chair by Wegner.
Why is this city special to you?
Fie: Copenhagen is where I grew up and my family live close by. Also, you can reach the beach and forest within 30 minutes.
Kasper: It doesn’t feel like a typical capital as you can bike everywhere. There is water all around and many places to hang out.
Which are your favourite Frederiksberg spots?
Kasper: I have almost daily meetings at a restaurant called Falernum and a new coffee place, Craft, just opened up, which is owned by a Sicilian who imports great coffee from Sicily.
Fie: Ipsens is a cosy café that has a ‘drive-through’ window for stroller moms, as well as great food including typical open-faced rye bread sandwiches.
Is there a building anywhere in the world that you would give all this up to go and live in?
Fie and Kasper: The Louisiana Museum of Art, around 40 minutes north of Copenhagen, would make a dream home. It was designed by architect Vilhelm Wohlert in 1958, sits directly on the shore and has a beautiful sculpture garden with works by Alexander Calder, Richard Serra and many more. Every time we go there, we talk about what an amazing house it would be to live in.
