Aalborg University

How do you create learning environments that reflect the people who use them?

At Aalborg University's Copenhagen campus, a new interior concept has been developed to support the different needs, identities and everyday lives of its users. The project brings together Aalborg University, its institutes, employees and students, as well as external partners, to create study environments that are both functional and inspiring.

The environment was developed for the TECH department, with a focus on creating a more homely atmosphere that reflects its identity and culture. The ambition was to create a pleasant place to be, with an emphasis on comfort and closeness.

AAU Room2 059 High Res — Parcel Loop 1401

AAU Room1 020 High Res — Parcel Loop 2401

"Pyjama trousers, a gentleman's room & grandpa's slippers"

One of the ways the interiors were given more character was through the use of patterned fabrics.

Rather than relying solely on solid colours, Interior Design Consultant Tina Højbjerg Hansen wanted to introduce pattern to bring more depth, energy and personality into the spaces. As she explains, patterned textiles can help break up larger surfaces and create visual points of interest, making a space feel more lively and inviting.

The idea quickly became a conversation with Gabriel's Key Account Manager, Johnny Aarup. Tina Højbjerg Hansen recalls asking him:

You’ve got something with a pattern, right?

And of course Johnny Aarup did. The answer became Downtown and Uptown, two checked fabrics that brought exactly the kind of expression she was looking for.

Tina Højbjerg Hansen describes the desired mix as "pyjama trousers, a gentleman's room and grandpa's slippers", a combination that captures the warm, familiar and slightly playful character she wanted the patterns to bring into the spaces.

Downtown & Uptown

Choosing both Downtown and Uptown rather than a single patterned textile added variation and depth to the interiors. The two fabrics complement each other and create a balance between calm and energy, while the different colours help shape the identity of the TECH environment.

The design and colour palette of Downtown and Uptown were developed by Cenk Kivrikoglu, with Gensler serving as product design consultant.

Parcel Loop was also introduced early in the process and became part of the textile palette. According to Interior Design Consultant Tina Højbjerg Hansen, it proved to be a natural fit with the project's ambitions, particularly when it came to functionality and sustainability.

Together, the textiles contribute to a cohesive interior while allowing the different spaces to retain their own character. All three fabrics are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and carry the EU Ecolabel.

A project built on collaboration

The project is the result of collaboration between many different perspectives. The needs of the institutes, employees and students form the starting point, while Gabriel contribute specialist knowledge about fabrics, quality and design.

For Tina Højbjerg Hansen, bringing these perspectives together is an important part of creating successful interior solutions:

It is the interaction between the needs of the end users and the expertise of the manufacturer that helps create the best results. The goal is to bring functionality, wellbeing, aesthetics and identity together, creating a common thread throughout the spaces.
Tina Højbjerg Hansen, Interior Design Consultant, Aalborg University

Different identities, one visual language

For Creative Director Cenk Kivrikoglu, the combination of Downtown, Uptown and Parcel Loop works because each fabric has its own identity while speaking the same visual language. Downtown and Uptown bring a stronger graphic and structured character, while Parcel Loop introduces more texture and softness. Together, they create contrast while remaining connected through colour and scale.

Cenk Kivrikoglu sees the renewed interest in pattern as part of a broader movement in interior design. After a long period where contract interiors have often favoured quiet surfaces, plains and subtle textures, he sees a growing desire for more identity and visual richness:

What interests me is pattern as structure, rhythm and material expression. It can give a textile a stronger identity without necessarily making it loud. For me, the return of pattern is not really about going backwards. It is about rediscovering pattern as a contemporary tool for creating identity, warmth and a stronger sense of place.
Cenk Kivrikoglu, Creative Director, Gabriel

At Aalborg University’s Copenhagen campus, Downtown, Uptown and Parcel Loop put this approach into practice, combining pattern, texture and colour to create a learning environment with variation, personality and a sense of cohesion.

Skærmbillede 2026 10 06 Kl. 11.22.02 — Downtown 1107

Stay inspired

Join the Gabriel newsletter for inspiration and fabric insights.

Receive curated inspiration, discover new collections and stay updated on events, exhibitions and expert knowledge.

Sign up navigate_next