Eight years since Bang & Olufsen last had a presence in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD shopping district, the Danish audio powerhouse is back with a bang on Collins Street. The opening night of the brand’s new flagship store, with a guest list curated by Boss Hunting, was also fortuitously timed with the launch of B.H. Magazine. 367 Collins Street gave us the perfect opportunity to get to know our Melbourne readers in person and showcase the Bang & Olufsen partnership within the pages.
Audiophiles the world over bow down to the B&O brand, and rightly so. The legacy of Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen has been responsible for some of the world’s finest personal audio and home entertainment gear for the last century. Next year actually marks the 100th anniversary of the brand; not that we needed another occasion to celebrate both B&O and B.H.
Aside from sonic excellence, if there’s one other thing B&O’s Scandinavian roots can deliver on, it’s an immaculately considered retail experience. The flagship’s design is palatial to say the least. The tiered floor plan is loosely segmented into various simulated home entertainment setups, but is still free-flowing and organic, ultimately championing how each of the products could seamlessly integrate into one’s home. It’s audio first, and design a close second at B&O’s HQ.
The brand’s lead in Australia, Julian Kipping, shared some insights with us on the importance of longevity for B&O, and guests were treated to an acoustic showcase around the space. Designed to be repaired, cared for, and serviced almost indefinitely, many of B&O’s products can have their processing chips, for example, swapped out for any future upgrades in technology.
Along with the good people at Belvedere — who kept the crowd very well-lubricated — the cocktail hour on Collins Street gave John and myself an opportunity to present B.H. Volume 1 hot off the press to our readers in Melbourne. It’s Boss Hunting’s first foray into print and arrives bi-annually with a stack of elevated editorial in a hefty, premium package perfect for the coffee table.
Drop in to Bang & Olufsen’s new flagship at 367 Collins Street yourself – tell them we sent you – and get your hands on the first ever Boss Hunting print magazine here.
