A new design store has opened on Nørre Farimagsgade - close to Israels Plads and the food halls of Torvehallerne but a block away towards the lakes.

It is an interesting space in what looks, from the outside, like a relatively familiar style of large Copenhagen apartment building from the late 19th century. It looks as if it will have relatively low spaces in a half basement just down from the street level that would have been either for commercial use or simply services and store rooms for the apartments above. In fact the interior is much more interesting and much more dramatic because the space that runs across the whole of the half basement was previously a printing house with large areas that were double height.

There are relatively small windows along the street frontage that are at pavement level with an entrance door, at one end of the front, with steps down into a low space that is now an area for a coffee and a food outlet but then there are steps that go on down to the rest of the space along the front that has high ceilings so there is good natural light and interesting spaces.

Here, within the retail area of about 500 square metres, there are products from 40 small independent companies who are generally at that intermediate stage between selling on line or at design fairs and markets but before they expand to open a dedicated shop of their own.

Here you can find a good range of clothing, beauty products, jewellery, linens and items for the home. In terms of style, the range of products here reminds me of what can be found in the FindersKeepers design markets. Note …. that’s praise and not veiled criticism - the FindersKeepers markets are great but are only held once or twice a year.

Censuum describe themselves as a new form of department store because they focus on products that are responsible, sustainable, and climate friendly and they work with brands who can show that they are socially conscientious.

The cafe is good, serving coffee from the specialist roaster Prolog - now in the Meatpacking District - as well as craft beers and bread from the Andersen Bakery so they are setting their level high. There are tables and chairs inside and small tables and chairs set up along the pavement.

Censuum, Nørre Farimagsgade 47, 1364 København