Our favourite Scandiphile has reportedly purchased a house in the city. Here’s your low-down
It’s no secret that Lily Collins is a fan of Scandinavia. You only have to witness the actress flash her Rejsekort to understand that. Collins, known for her portrayal of bubbly marketing whiz Emily in Netflix’s hit show Emily in Paris, has often proclaimed her penchant for our region, particularly Copenhagen. “I feel so attracted to this place,” Collins said in an interview for our digital cover. “It’s a deep soul connection, like when you meet a person as an adult and you go, ‘Woah, how have we not met before?’”
Collins has had a longtime crush on the Danish capital, even visiting the city with her new husband, Charlie McDowell, in 2021, as part of the pair’s honeymoon. The couple went on a scenic Nordic tour, travelling to Swedish Lapland, Lofoten and, of course, Copenhagen. Ever since then, Collins has been a regular visitor to the region, and now it looks like there may be a chance we will see more of her, as Collins and McDowell have reportedly purchased a house in Copenhagen, according to Danish publication Ekstrabladet.
Related: Digital Cover: Lily in Copenhagen
According to the newspaper, the couple are said to have acquired the property – previously belonging to film director Pernille Fischer Christensen and husband Kim Fupz Aakeson – via their company: Case Study Copenhagen ApS. However, it remains unclear what purpose the house could be for.
The property is nestled in the charming, leafy district of Østerbro. Situated on the waterfront and known as Copenhagen’s greenest borough, Østerbro boasts several lush parks and streets that are dotted with coffee shops, boutiques and restaurants. It is one of the city’s most affluent and historic neighbourhoods, featuring a fascinating area, known as Kartoffelräkkerne (‘potato rows’), an area which is famous for its 11 closely set streets where tightly-built rows of yellow brick terraced houses are arranged like potato plants in a field.
The neighbourhood’s name stems from the fact that during the 1700s the Kartoffelräkkerne was, as the name suggests, a potato field that provided nutrition for the city’s growing population. In the 1800s, that land had to be used for another beneficial purpose as Copenhagen was thrown into dire need of affordable and hygienic housing. Constructed and designed by the Workers’ Building Association, 480 houses were built in Kartoffelräkkerne between 1870s and 1880s to offer clean and low-cost accommodation for the city’s workers.
Initially, each three-story house was split between two or three families, with each family occupying one floor. As decades passed, the buildings’ condition deteriorated, and by the 1970s the Danish capital was on the verge of demolishing them. Luckily, the residents of Kartoffelräkkerne fought hard to keep the landmark intact, and they even managed to get the city’s council to agree to a complete renovation of all the houses.
Today, Kartoffelräkkerne remains one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods in Copenhagen, with a reputation of being one of the city’s safest and most peaceful areas. And due to its close proximity to nature, multiple lakes and the city centre, it’s hardly surprising that Collins might want to get her very own slice of hygge.
Fashion credits for the header image: Dress, €1,200, T-shirt, worn underneath, €650. Both Cecilie Bahnsen. 18k white gold ‘Panthère’ bracelet, set with emerald eyes, onyx and brilliant-cut diamonds, price upon request, 18k white gold ‘Panthère’ necklace, with black lacquer, emeralds, onyx and brilliant-cut diamonds, price upon request. Both Cartier. Cowboy boots, €278. Ganni.