New Menu Connected Spaces Designs for 2020

Following the launch of The Audo in Copenhagen last year, this multi-functional hotel residence and home to MENU headquarters has become an ever-evolving, living space in which the Danish design company develops and interacts with its collection.

I'm always excited to see what MENU will do next, their approach to refined, minimalist furniture is always so intuitive. Everything they release I instantly fall in love with. Sigh.

The new MENU Connected Spaces additions for 2020 reflect an ethos rooted in the idea of meaningful interactions within our living environment. As The Audo so beautifully demonstrates, the distinctions between home, work, and hospitality are blurring. These common, age-old constraints are being redefined.

We want our workspaces to feel more homely whether we work from home or not. We want for our homes to feel more like an extension of a boutique hotel. To make the everyday experience at home feel that little bit more special, to create meaningful interactions within the spaces we live in.

Anyway, let's stop with the gushing and get on with introducing the new pieces, shall we?!

Reverse Lamp - by Aleksandar Lazic

The real stand-out piece from the 2020 Stockholm Design Week (I missed it) was the Reverse Lamp, designed by Aleksandar Lazic. The base of the lamp features a raw travertine stone which reflects the light from the conical, bronzed aluminium shade across its unique and unworked surface. The lamp is fitted with a dim-to-warm LED light to adjust its intensity and is an ideal source of ambient light for the bedroom or shelving unit.

Hashira Collection - by Norm Architects

A soft glowing linen covered Japanese inspired Hashira pendant lamp, designed by Norm Architects hangs over the oak Androgyne table, part of the MENU Connected Spaces for 2020 collection.

Norm Architects continue to explore the intersection of Japanese design and Nordic sensibilities with the Hashira lighting collection. Taking its name from the Japanese word for column or pillar, this linen cloth take on the traditional rice paper lamps emits a warm and soothing glow. Available in a floor lamp, table lamp and variations of pendant lighting, its soft and simplistic design show the structure inside when lit.

Walker Wall/Ceiling Light - Søren Rose Studio

I absolutely adored seeing the Walker lights in situ when I visited The Audo. Inspired by the golden era of design, their almost vintage 1930s appearance gives a very contemporary space a touch of old-world elegance. Designer by Søren Rose spent time traveling across the US searching for old lamps and retro parts that would go on to inform the Menu Tribeca collection. The opal glass or metal scones can be configured accordingly to be wall-mounted facing up or down as well as used as a ceiling light.

Androgyne Dining Table - by Danielle Siggerud

An update on the Androgyne side table designed by architect-designer Danielle Siggerund, the new Androgyne dining table features a Kunis Breccia mixed stone table top, polished to a high shine on top of a sculptural oak base.

Initially designed by architect-designer Danielle Sigerrund as a side table, Androgyne has since evolved to include a lounge and dining table. Drawing on the monument-like qualities of the side table, the latest iteration features a striking Kunis Breccia stone surface atop a natural oak base. This blend of different warm-toned stone gives the table a soft feminine feel against its polished and masculine shape. Quite the statement.

Rail Desk - by Keiji Ashizawa Design

A super minimal, slender light oak topped wall-mounted desk with a black metal support arm. Designed by Keiji Ashizawa for MENU, this multifunctional piece of furniture becomes adaptable as a small space workspace, shelf or counter top.

The Rail Desk is the perfect example of how design is adapting as the way we use our homes becomes more fluid and flexible. This slender, minimal desk created by Keiji Ashizawa Design, demonstrates how multi-functional furniture can be used to create adaptable spaces. Inspired by architectural structures and his background in steelworking, Keiji's Rail Desk with an oak top can be used as a home workspace (ideal for small space living) as well as a shelf or counter.

Afteroom Plus Wood Base Chair - by Afteroom

An update on MENU's first dining chair, the Afteroom chair, the latest addition has been created in plywood which gives the chair a soft, curved aesthetic.

A hands-down favourite of mine as a dining chair, the original tubular metal incarnation of the Afteroom chair pays homage to the stripped-back functionality and shape that arose from the Bauhaus movement. Designed by Stockholm-based Taiwanese duo of the same name has been given an update in plywood. Its gentle curves and soft silhouette make this chair a warm and versatile addition to the home.

MENU Connected SpacesPhotography courtesy of Menu.