a bookstore inside cobe copenhagen: a material library of architecture, cities, and ideas
By Stinelund
Located within Cobe’s studio in Copenhagen, the bookstore offers a carefully curated selection of urbanism, landscape, architecture, and design titles from around the world. Visitors are invited not only to browse and purchase books, but also to spend time reading, discovering new ideas, and engaging with architecture while enjoying complimentary coffee. The interiors have been designed by Danish architect Nikolaj Mentze from Studio 0405 and feature bespoke steel shelving, a long wooden bench with café seating, and wooden display cases, creating a warm and inviting environment for reading, reflection, and informal exchange. Architectural models from Cobe are also displayed throughout the space, further connecting the bookstore to the practice’s work and design process.
The initiative stems from a simple observation: despite Copenhagen’s international reputation as a leading design and architecture city, it has long lacked a dedicated architecture bookstore. ‘We have missed a place like this in Copenhagen for years,’ says Dan Stubbergaard, founder of Cobe. ‘Architecture is ultimately about people, places, and the exchange of ideas. Yet there has been no dedicated space where architects, students, or curious visitors can immerse themselves in the best architecture books, discover new perspectives, and find inspiration. Instead of waiting for someone else to create it, we decided to do it ourselves.’
The bookstore represents a natural extension of Cobe’s ambition to open its studio to the city. Following the launch of the studio’s café in 2019, the new bookstore further transforms the practice into a place for conversation, learning, and cultural exchange. By inviting visitors directly into the studio environment, Cobe hopes to make architecture more accessible and to share some of the references, ideas, and discussions that inform its work. ‘At a time when so much of our attention is captured by screens, we believe there is real value in creating a physical space dedicated to knowledge, curiosity, and reflection,‘ continues Stubbergaard. ‘The bookstore is a counterpoint to the increasingly digital lives we all navigate. We hope it becomes a place where people can slow down, engage deeply with ideas, and leave inspired.’
The bookstore offers a continuously evolving selection of books spanning architecture, cities, landscape, design, art, and related disciplines. The collection includes books from Danish and international publishers, vintage finds, theoretical works, Cobe’s own publications, and books by mentors and collaborators who have influenced the practice throughout its history. With the opening of the bookstore, Cobe aims to contribute something meaningful to Copenhagen’s cultural and architectural landscape: a place where books, ideas, coffee, and conversation come together under one roof. The bookstore and café are open weekdays from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Cobe’s bookstore is located inside the practice’s Copenhagen studio
the space presents a curated selection of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and design books
This article was originally published by Designboom.