From Sydney to Scandinavia: Inside NAU’s immersive exhibition at Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign

In the leafy streets of Copenhagen’s Frederiksstaden district, the vine-clad walls of the Galerie Mikael Andersen recently played host to an Australian takeover. As the city came alive for its annual 3daysofdesign festival, Australian brand NAU opened a curated exhibition in the gallery, giving the Danes a chance to experience their inimitable ethos of approachability, comfort, and simplicity.

Featuring new works by Tom Fereday alongside hero pieces – many by fellow countryman Adam Goodrum – from NAU’s contemporary range, the exhibition aimed to engage visitors with the creativity and craftsmanship that define NAU, offering insights into the design process and philosophy behind each piece. Fresh off furnishing the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, the exhibition at 3daysofdesign capped off a world tour for NAU, which shared the spirit of Australian design on the global stage.

We were incredibly excited to bring NAU to the European market and participate in 3daysofdesign,” says Richard Munao, Founder of NAU. “This event is the perfect platform to introduce our unique Australian design ethos to a global audience and connect with the international design community.”

The two hero pieces of the exhibition were the Cove and Nola collections, both by Australian designer Tom Fereday. Like the broader NAU collection, these pieces draw on traditional furniture and lighting profiles, but introduce moments of curiosity and playfulness with material choices and inversions on typical forms.

The Cove collection, comprising an armchair and sofa, takes its name from its gently sweeping curves that sit – like the crest of a wave – at the top of the armrests. Referencing the minimal cove forms found in architecture, the two armrests hug a series of wooden bars, which collectively create a warm frame for the thick seating cushions. Originally presented in 2022 as limited edition pieces cast in aluminium, this new design iteration of Cove comes in solid oak and walnut timber and is the first commercially available edition of its kind.

Left to right: The Cove Armchair and the Nola Table Light

Also designed by Fereday is the new Nola light, which is available as a table light in two different sizes. A celebration of natural materials, Nola is crafted from hand-cast crystal glass that sits like a shell atop an inner core of honed solid stone. With a concealed light source, Nola emits a soft luminosity, bringing ambiance, softness, and beauty to any space.

These two new collections were joined by a broader selection of NAU’s furniture range, creating an immersive foray into the rich textures and quality craftsmanship that Australian design can bring. From the factory-seating inspired SIA Chair by Tom Fereday, to the voluptuous Billo, the timelessly luxurious Aran Sofa, the iconic Fat Tulip Armchair, and the elegantly simple Molloy Chairs, Table, and XL Coffee Table – all by Adam Goodrum – the full scope of the brand, and the talents of it’s suite of designers, was on show.

Driven by a passion for authentic Australian design and an ambitious goal to elevate Australian design to new heights, NAU’s Copenhagen takeover was one for the ages, bringing their unique blend of easy sophistication to one of Europe’s most stylish capitals. For guests, stepping into the doors of the NAU exhibit was like being transported into a new world of design, transitioning from the busting Nordic streets to the relaxed, effortless, warmth of NAU, as an extension of that enigmatic Australian design vernacular.

Photography by Armin Tehran