WHEN DESIGN AND SOUND SHARE THE SAME SPACE
Founded in Copenhagen by Nikolaj Meier and Knut Bendik Humlevik, New Works is a contemporary Danish design house that operates at the intersection of craft, art, and modern living. The brand works with a roster of international designers to create furniture, lighting, and interior objects defined by sculptural forms and a deep respect for materials.
At the core of New Works’ philosophy lies a fascination with honest materials and tactile experiences. From the cool weight of marble to the warmth of oak and the softness of textiles, each piece is designed to celebrate the natural character of the material itself. The result is a collection where form, function, and feeling are carefully balanced, producing objects that are as visually compelling as they are functional.
Rather than simply following Scandinavian design traditions, New Works seeks to reinterpret them. The brand combines timeless Nordic craftsmanship with experimentation and contemporary expression, creating pieces that feel both familiar and forward-looking. Through this approach, New Works has built a distinctive design language characterised by calm minimalism, sculptural silhouettes, and thoughtful detailing.
Where Design Meets Sound
When New Works collaborates with Artcoustic Loudspeakers, the partnership feels natural.
Like New Works, Artcoustic is a Danish brand built on the idea that performance and aesthetics should never be separated. While New Works works with form, light, and materiality, Artcoustic brings the same design-driven thinking to sound and acoustics.
Both brands share a belief that design should integrate seamlessly into architecture and interior spaces. Where traditional loudspeakers often demand visual attention, Artcoustic approaches sound in the same way a designer approaches furniture or lighting — as a carefully considered element of the interior environment.
This alignment makes the collaboration particularly compelling. New Works creates spaces defined by texture, atmosphere, and sculptural clarity, while Artcoustic complements these environments with high-performance sound solutions that respect the visual language of the room.
The result is a shared design philosophy:
technology that enhances the experience of a space without disrupting its aesthetic balance.
A Shared Danish Design Mindset
Ultimately, the connection between New Works and Artcoustic reflects a broader tradition within Danish design - the pursuit of harmony between function and sensory experience.
New Works shapes the visual and tactile atmosphere of a space. Artcoustic adds the acoustic dimension, without compromising on sound quality nor design aesthetics, bringing clarity and ambience into any room. Artcoustic invites the listener to feel the space and acknowledge the importance of how good sound quality can lift the experience of any space.
Together, they demonstrate how design, architecture, and sound can coexist as part of a unified interior experience.
We spoke with Knut Bendik Humlevik, Co-founder & Creative Director, New Works, about his thoughts about the collaboration between New Works and Artcoustic
When designing the New Works showroom in Bredgade, Knut Bendik Humlevik set out to create a calm, almost introspective contrast to the pace of the city outside. The transition from street level and two floors up is intentionally guiding visitors into a space defined by natural light, openness, and a sense of quiet immersion in the middle of a busy urban environment.
At the core of the experience is a carefully orchestrated interplay between light, materials, and sound. For New Works, sound is an addition, but an essential layer of the spatial composition. It shapes how visitors feel, subtly guiding movement through the rooms and reinforcing zones of focus, reflection, and presence.
“Sound is essential to how we shape a space. Together with light and materials, it creates a mental continuity that allows people to slow down and fully immerse themselves.”
This philosophy becomes especially tangible during the Copenhagen design festival, 3 Days of Design, where the showroom exhibition invites visitors to slow down - whether browsing, reading, or simply sitting within spaces designed for contemplation. Here, the auditory environment plays a key role in deepening immersion, gently enhancing the emotional character of each room.
Artcoustic was chosen as the sound solution precisely because it aligns with this design approach. Its ability to deliver high-performance sound without visually dominating the space allows the atmosphere to remain coherent and uninterrupted. The speakers integrate seamlessly into the architecture, supporting the overall sensory experience without drawing attention to themselves.
“Artcoustic’s strength is its subtlety. The sound becomes part of the atmosphere, not a visual statement - supporting the experience without ever dominating it.”
For Knut Bendik Humlevik, this balance is essential: sound should be felt rather than seen. In this way, the collaboration with Artcoustic allows New Works to extend its design language beyond the visual - creating spaces that are not only seen, but fully experienced.
Sound Design Across the Showroom
The goal of the installation at the New Works showroom was not simply to add background music, but to demonstrate how the Artcoustic loudspeaker design supports the experience and ambience of the different types of spaces and experiences.
To achieve this soundscape, Artcoustic selected models from both the SL Series and the CPH Series, creating a variety of system configurations throughout the showroom. The intention was to showcase the flexibility of the Artcoustic range - from classic two-channel stereo systems to three-channel setups with subwoofer, as well as soundbars, full-range soundbars, and active speakers.
Each room was treated individually, with the loudspeaker configuration chosen to match the size, layout, and purpose of the space.
In some areas, designed for movement and conversation, mono installations were the most appropriate solution. Here, mono systems provide consistent, evenly distributed sound coverage without creating a fixed listening position. This ensures that visitors experience the same balanced sound regardless of where they are in the room.
In other areas, stereo installations were implemented to allow for a more immersive listening experience. These rooms can move beyond background music and deliver the full depth, dynamics, and spatial imaging that Artcoustic systems are known for.
A number of rooms within the showroom now function as reference listening environments where the full performance potential of the systems can be experienced. This is particularly true in spaces such as the Champagne Bar, the Atelier, the Middle Lounge, and the Library, where the acoustics and speaker configurations allow for a complete and highly detailed sound experience.
The result is a showroom where sound is present everywhere, but never intrusive.
At a subtle level, the system provides luxury background music that enhances the atmosphere of the space. Yet the same systems also have the capability to deliver significantly higher output levels when needed — allowing many of the rooms to easily transition from calm showroom ambience to lively social gatherings or events.
Ultimately, the installation demonstrates one of Artcoustic’s core strengths: the ability to create beautifully integrated sound systems that combine architectural discretion with high-performance audio.
About NEW WORKS
Founded in Copenhagen by Nikolaj Meier and Knut Bendik Humlevik, New Works is a contemporary Danish design house exploring the intersection of craft, art, and modern living. Through collaborations with a roster of international designers, the brand creates furniture, lighting, and interior objects defined by sculptural forms and a deep respect for materials.
Rooted in the Scandinavian tradition of craftsmanship, New Works celebrates the honesty of natural materials while experimenting with contemporary expressions and geometric forms. The result is a design language that balances tradition with innovation—objects that are both functional and visually compelling.
Today, New Works has established itself as a distinctive voice in modern Nordic design, creating collections that bring together materiality, atmosphere, and sculptural simplicity in contemporary interiors.