Nikoline Dyrup Carlsen is an architect, co-founder of the multidisciplinary studio Spacon&X in Copenhagen, and also a senior lecturer at KADK, the School of Architecture of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
Over the years, Nikoline has played the roles of co-host and juror on Danish television, actively engaging in various panels and conferences worldwide focused on architecture and design. She passionately shares her vision and the mission of the company she co-founded. This year, Nikoline expanded her involvement by joining the Romanian Design Week as a juror specifically in the field of interior design.
We interviewed her, in the context of the Romanian Design Week festival. We discussed her professional journey, the mission of her company, her philosophy on design and architecture, which shares with her students. We also talked about her experience of RDW 2023, the projects she evaluated as a juror, and the significance of these projects.
Nikoline, how would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you? What are those few words that define you?
Optimistic, explorative and rebellian.
Can you tell us about your background and how you became interested in architecture?
I come from a family of entrepreneurs, architects and designers. My initial thought was to become a politician, but I found a big interest in architecture and city planning with the possibility to discuss big topics on how we live our lives with a potential for brighter futures.
I graduated from big scale architecture in Copenhagen in 2006, since then I’ve been teaching at the architecture school. I lead a programme called ‘shared spaces’ and teach on several set ups in creative processes.
I was a lead competition architect from 2006-2013, until founding Spacon&X together with my husband, who comes from communication and branding and my good friend Malene, who has a mixed background from architecture and fashion design. Together we have founded a studio with a cross disciplinary team and DNA, we are around 20-30 employees on a mission to explore and design beyond the obvious!
Next to leading Spacon & X I’ve always been involved in jurys on the art, design and architecture scene, participating in TV programmes and discussion-panels about design and architecture, counseling on exams on the design and architecture schools and lecturing world wide about the work and mission of Spacon&X, women leadership and our view on future possibilities.
Can you describe your design philosophy and how it influences your work at Spacon & X?
Spacon&X is based on the DNA of natural born explorers that seek to push boundaries and think beyond the obvious. We work across disciplines and educational fields, to be able to grasp all levels of each project and develop holistic solutions.
How do you balance your roles as both an architect and an entrepreneur? (as co-founder of Spacon & X)? How is the organization you are part of, structured?
For me this is a beautiful mix, to be able to give birth to movements and ideas, and to do it within the field of design and architecture (within the creative field), where the idea can get a format to live through and become alive.
We structure our creative processes and cross disciplinarity based on a lot of sharing sessions where focus is to disrupt each others’ disciplines and collaborate on holistic approaches.
What advice would you give to aspiring architects and designers, particularly those who hope to start their own firm one day?
Do it! If you have a dream about doing it yourself, if you see a missing field in the market, a mission that you don’t find answers to in other companies, then you probably are on to something missing, and then I can only recommend to be bold and live that dream out.
As a senior lecturer at the KADK, School of Architecture of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts (Det Kongelige Akademi), what values or principles do you aim to instill in your students? How do you see the future of your industry?
I believe that creatives play a potentially very big role in the future in front of us. I think that responsibility is good to remind ourselves, when working with what we believe is possible, to move with our creativity within architecture and design, and that’s why I put a lot of effort into feeding the young creatives I teach.
How did you come to be selected as a judge for the interior design category of Romanian Design Week this year? What do you hope to see in terms of innovative ideas and approaches from the next generation of designers?
I was contacted by Romanian Design Week and I confirmed right away. I find a big interest in keeping touch with what is going on in the world, and I love to be inspired by other approaches and new visions as I have met through the presentation of the selected projects.
When judging the interior design category, what specific elements or factors will you prioritize or pay particular attention to? Additionally, in your view, what qualities do successful interior designers possess?
I have a focus on the missions and visions behind the designs, I value when there’s a clear consistency between those intentions and the final output. I also value when a strong character and identity are present throughout a project’s levels, from overall to details.
What are your impressions of Romanian architecture, and how do you think it compares to other regions or countries?
What I was very happy to see through the projects of RDW was a high level of courage and playfulness.
How do you see the role of initiatives like Romanian Design Week?
I think the celebration of good design, innovative ideas and strong visions are very important to support and value. It means a lot to motivate for more good and to inspire, which is super important.
Favorite design style: Cool & elegant
Heels or flat shoes? – High flat shoes
A day at the office described in 3 words: Collaborative, explorative and energetic
Note to self: Stay explorative!
Read more about Romanian Design Week here.
You can find the Romanian version of the interview here.
Photo credit: Hedda Rysstad
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Editor: Mara Rusu