By Hanna Nova Beatrice
A change of pace and place
NICK NEMECHEK LEFT behind the busy pace of New York for Copenhagen a year ago. Today he enjoys the calming atmosphere of his new city, cycling to work in Nordhavn every morning and often inviting friends over to his home for dinner in the evening. His central apartment has high ceilings, beautiful wall panelling and large spacious rooms. “I feel there is a greater work-life balance in Copenhagen compared to other cities I’ve lived in – and there is a focus on making time for those important people in your life,” says Nemechek. “In New York I felt relationships were often very transactional. But in Copenhagen I feel a much greater and genuine connection with those that I have been lucky enough to bring into my life. My life here has actually been a wonderful change, and I feel so at home despite not knowing Danish. I think the biggest difference is the pace. I love having a calming bike ride to work in the morning, rather than packing on to a crowded 30-minute subway ride.”
What attracted you to the city at first?
“I moved to Copenhagen in 2017 after seven years living in New York City. Through work at my previous company, TRNK-NYC. com, I had travelled to Copenhagen several times and really got to know the great community of people here in the city. Coming from New York, I was attracted to the scale of the city and I was ready for a change, being a little burnt out from the challenges of living in a very large metropolis.”
How did you go about setting up a home in Copenhagen? What did you bring with you from your previous home?
“I was quite fortunate to find a very charming apartment located in the centre of the city to settle into. The apartment dates from the very late 1700s, and I fell in love with the panelling on the walls and the open layout – how one room flows into another. I had many items shipped from America, which was an important part of the foundation of building a home. It was very important for me to bring all the personal items – books, art, a few pieces of important furniture. One of the pieces – the Penguin chair – was of particular importance. I purchased this maybe five or so years ago in New York after coveting it for even longer. The chair was designed by Ib Kofod-Larsen and manufactured in the 1950s in Denmark, but only sold in America. I thought it was quite special to bring this piece back full circle to its origin.”
Tell us a bit about your background, and what you do now.
“I currently work for the Da
