Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free
Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Aarhus was an obvious place for me to move to after graduating from design school on the island of Bornholm east of mainland Denmark. As a Jutlander at heart, I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else in the country.
I work as a full-time glassblower, a profession I encountered by chance when I discovered a small glass studio and gave it a try. I was instantly mesmerised by the way the material melted to become fluid; I could transform it into whatever I liked. Today I run my own studio in the centre of the city, where I craft all of my designs. I specialise in clear-glass tableware, creating sculptural objects inspired by techniques and designs from the Italian Renaissance.
I like living here. Aarhus has flourished over the past few years thanks to a growing creative community. I live with my wife and one-year-old daughter in a residential area called Frederiksbjerg. It’s near Marselisborg Skovene, a lush forest that extends along the city’s southern coast. In summer, we’ll combine a walk there with a swim; in autumn, we pick chanterelles. On our way back we often stroll through Ingerslev Boulevard market to pick up organic vegetables, cheese and flowers to decorate our home with.
My studio is in the Latin Quarter, a lively neighbourhood criss-crossed by cobbled streets lined with colourful buildings. Among the cultural destinations here are the Aarhus Domkirke, an imposing 12th-century cathedral that I visit when I need inspiration, and contemporary art gallery Kunsthal Aarhus, which is great at bringing local creatives together.
When it comes to shops, my top spots are Stoy, a multi-brand fashion store that stocks designers including Roa Hiking and Acne Studios, and Raasted, which specialises in furniture and fashion from Scandinavia and beyond. Raasted is the only store in Aarhus that sells my glassware. I’m selective about stockists and keep the number to a minimum. When your stuff is sold everywhere it loses value.
I like to keep a regular nine-to-five routine during the week – this usually starts at La Cabra Bakery, which sells the best banana bread I’ve ever tasted, or Jumbo Bakery for quality sourdough bread. When I have time for a longer lunch, I head to Gaijin Ramen. My favourite dish is spiced pork ramen.
After a busy day, I’ll bike to the Vikingeklubben Jomsborg swimming club just north of the city. The glass furnaces turn my studio into a sauna, so going for an icy dip is the best way to unwind. When I want a warm swim, I stop by Badeanstalten Spanien, the city’s historic public baths. There’s a beautiful spa with white-tiled walls and pools on the top floor.
Friday afternoons are when I go out with friends: people usually finish the week around 3pm here. If I’m not at a local bodega – a traditional kind of Danish bar – I head to Erlings, a jazz bar with a great selection of beers on tap. My all-time dinner spot is Bardok, a laidback bistro serving southern European dishes accompanied by shots of vodka. As you can imagine, the atmosphere is always buzzing.
I’ve considered relocating to Copenhagen, where the creative scene is more bustling. But over time I’ve realised there are real benefits to living somewhere smaller. I’m not as influenced by trends here. I keep my designs true to their original language. It’s rewarding to make work with a defined identity that people around the world will get to know me for.
