NOW OPEN: Audo Copenhagen Presents 'The Grand Café' At Salone del Mobile 2026
Discover the immersive architectural setting and gathering space that reimagines the spirit of Italy’s salons.
[APRIL 21, 2026] — Designed by Norm Architects in collaboration with Art Director Christian Møller Andersen, the 460 m² installation draws on Italian historicism and the disciplined geometry of 1930s modernism. Lofty colonnades guide visitors through a sequence of rooms where rhythm, proportion, and materiality shape an atmosphere that feels both considered and welcoming.
Rather than a conventional exhibition stand, The Grand Café unfolds as a cohesive world of connected hospitality. Guests move intuitively from a lounge to a café and into a dining hall, each space contributing to a larger architectural narrative unified by soft minimalism. Here, design is experienced in context — lived with, gathered around, and returned to.
Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen, Co-Founder of Norm Architects, explains: “With The Grand Café, we wanted to create more than a stand—we wanted to shape spaces that are both monumental and intimate. Drawing on the language and grandeur of Italian historicism and early modernism, we sought to frame Audo’s collection within an architectural experience that encourages people to slow down, gather, and connect.”
.jpg "Through fully realized interior scenarios, Audo seamlessly blends residential warmth with architectural clarity, shaped by an understanding of how people meet, linger, and return to spaces.")
Inspired by the spirit of Italy’s grand social salons, the installation invites guests into a complete architectural setting defined by proportion, materiality, and light. Framed by colonnades, the interconnected interiors each carry their own character while contributing to a unified vision of hospitality that is warm, deliberate, and human in scale.
Joachim Kornbek-Engell Hansen, Design & Brand Director at Audo, adds: "At Audo, we believe design is best understood in context. The Grand Café allows us to present our pieces not as isolated objects, but as part of a lived setting—one that reflects our ongoing exploration of hospitality, materiality, and connection.”
Rooted in Copenhagen with a global outlook, Audo brings heritage and contemporary design into dialogue. At the center of the fair, The Grand Café stands as a testament to the brand’s ability to shape environments, not just objects. The installation also offers a first look at upcoming designs, with previews of pieces launching in June.
The Grand Café is a setting made for gathering — where atmosphere leads, connection follows, and design becomes something to be felt.
Design for connection. This is where we meet.
All imagery credit: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen
