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Noma Nordic landscape

Polyform Architects designed a Nordic landscape in front of Noma restaurant in Copenaghen to keep curious eyes at a distance – but still give them a tasteful experience of it.

Restaurant Noma – just named “The World’s Best Restaurant” for the 4th time – attracts food travellers who have gone to great lengths to book a table.

However, it also brings visitors without reservations, who sometimes come in hundreds to have their picture taken in front of the restaurant and maybe catch a glimpse of the innovative servings through the windows. Guests inside often find the voyeurs somewhat distracting however and Noma ended up contacting Polyform Architects for a design solution.

“Chef René Redzepi was not interested in putting up a red rope in front of the restaurant” – says Polyform partner Thomas Kock – “He didn’t want to exclude the curious minds but rather create a buffer zone around the restaurant, which gave visitors the experience of Noma and in this way included them.” This gave Polyform the idea to choose to design a Nordic landscape around the windows of the restaurant.

Polyform Architects, Noma Nordic landscape, Copenaghen, Denmark — Polyform Architects, Noma Nordic landscape, Copenhagen, Denmark

The landscape design is based on the Nordic terroir just like the new Nordic cuisine. Robust, evergreen plants from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, The Faroe Islands and Norway where brought in along with lava stones from Iceland to mirror the coastal landscapes of the North Atlantic shores. The gardens are cut directly out of the raw concrete harbour front that surrounds the 18th century warehouse housing Noma.

The new Nordic landscape also serves as the newest supplier to the restaurant as bee hives are a part of the scenery as well. The bees will feed on the Nordic terroir in front of the restaurant which will result in a unique tasting honey to be served to Noma guests.