Over the past six years, the solid Dinesen HeartOak floors inside Noma, Copenhagen, have gracefully aged and patinated, adding even more character and warmth to the restaurant’s ambience.
Since its opening, Noma has set the standard for innovation in gastronomy, earning the title of the world’s best restaurant four times by the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants. After relocating from its original home, Noma reopened in a stunning new space featuring Dinesen wood throughout.
Restaurant — Copenhagen, Denmark
BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and David Thulstrup
Photographer: Monica Grue Steffensen
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HeartOak — Main Dining
Thickness 30 mm. Width 450 mm. Length 2-5 m
Finish Natural Oil
Douglas — Private Dining
Thickness 35 mm. Width 450 mm. Length 7,5 m
Finish Lye and White Oil
The combination of natural materials used and expansive windows throughout the dining area creates a seamless connection to the outdoors, allowing visitors to feel immersed in nature. The wooden flooring and wall cladding enhance this experience, offering both visual and tactile reminders of the natural world.
The natural cracks in the oak, enhanced with elegant butterfly joints, tell a story of both history and careful craftsmanship, echoing Noma’s dedication to excellence.
For six years, Noma has welcomed countless employees and guests through its doors, and the floors have been walked on by thousands of people.
As oak ages and patinates from indoor use and wear, it deepens and darkens in colour, with its character becoming more pronounced as the grain patterns emerge more clearly. This patination enhances the wood’s aesthetic appeal, imparting a sense of warmth and timelessness. At Dinesen, we take pride in advocating the use of a natural material that excels in durability, both in performance and quality, as well as in its aesthetic appeal.
The partnership between Noma and Dinesen began in 2012 when Dinesen provided the wooden floors for Noma’s original Strandgade location. This collaboration grew and continues to grow, with Dinesen working alongside Bjarke Ingels Group and David Thulstrup in 2018 to create a space that embodies Noma’s core values and forward-thinking philosophy.
The entrance area features walls cladding in Dinesen HeartOak, creating a welcoming space that heightens guests’ anticipation for what lies ahead.
The lounge space, next to the entrance, is a welcoming space for guests to interact and converse about the dining experience. Light, hand-made bricks make up the walls and flooring, while large Dinesen Oak Natural planks cover the ceiling in a striking structure.
Inside the main dining room, the floors are solid Dinesen HeartOak planks, with natural cracks preserved out of respect for the oak trees, which can be up to 200 years old. The planks are full of vitality and history, and as a unique detail, the cracks have been locked with elegant butterfly joints of oak, emphasising and celebrating these characteristic and unique imperfections.
