You might have already seen the first part of my round-up of top picks from Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020 yesterday – this is part two, with seven more discoveries and furniture launches. Today the focus is on curves and organic forms – they were everywhere at the annual showcase of Scandinavian design, from circular rugs and U-shaped side tables to pebble-shaped sofas and armchairs with exaggerated, rounded backs.
mazō
mazō is a new name for me. Launched last year at Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design, mazō is a Danish brand that produces and reissues iconic design classics and forgotten hidden gems. It was founded by Magnus Stephensen, Louise Buus and Magnus Sangild who have a background in the design industry at brands such as Gubi and By Lassen.
‘We believe the most foresighted design can be created by embracing the experience of the past. We aim though to also stay true to the revolutionary part of this heritage. That is why we partner with new and dedicated designers, who not only share our fondness of the Nordic and Japanese aesthetics and understand the balance of beauty and function, but also create new designs, in quality materials, suited for humans and homes of our days,’ they say. ‘mazō furniture is made for people, respectful of the past, yet mindful of the present. Looking for the balance between beauty and function.’
mazō has the exclusive rights to the back catalogue of Danish architect and furniture designer Magnus Læssøe Stephensen, reissuing the curvaceous, Japanese-inspired TMBO sofa and armchair of 1935, the WNG chair with its wing-shaped back, and the simple, wooden MZO chair, first conceived as a chair that working class Danes could afford. mazō has also collaborated on a new, adjustable, round coffee table with New York-based BUNN studio, as well as a porcelain lamp by ceramicist Snorre Læssøe Stephensen.
Images courtesy mazō
New Rope chair by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Artek
One of the stand-out designs at Stockholm Furniture Fair this year was the new Rope chair, designed by French duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Artek. The design has a super simple silhouette, described as ‘a line drawing translated into three dimensions, a simple artistic gesture rendered in space’. The chair comprises a steel tubed frame and form pressed beech plywood and ash veneer seat, with rope back and armrests that make the chair surprisingly comfortable and forgiving to the sitter’s shape.
The Rope chair is available in black or light grey with black polyester or natural flax rope.
Images courtesy Artek
New Roadie bench by Massproductions
Swedish brand Massproductions launched Roadie at the fair. Designed by Chris Martin (not of Coldplay fame!), Roadie is a lightweight and stackable outdoor bench inspired by steel crowd control barriers at rock concerts. The bench is curved so that sections can be easily placed next to each other, creating large formations or even a complete circle that encourages conversation between a group of people. Roadie is made of aluminium tubes that have been heat treated for maximum strength.
‘I wanted it to have a high back, a character trait that gave it a sense of being a mobile barrier, part of the architecture of the place – a wall you can lift up. I also wanted to make it a light object, I liked the idea that a single person could easily move a large three-seater sofa. And then I wanted it to be stackable,’ explains Chris Martin.
Images courtesy Massproductions
![v]Roadie - mass productions - Stockholm Furniture Fair](https://i0.wp.com/catesthill.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/06-560x840.jpg?resize=900%2C1350)
New from String furniture
The modular shelving system by Swedish company String has become a design classic, loved for its versatility. For 2020, they’ve released a utilitarian version of their popular Pocket shelf in metal, available in neon, taupe and white. The shelves are perforated, making them perfect for displaying everyday objects in kitchens and bathrooms. The upturned lip means that items are less likely to fall off the shelves, while hooks, rods and various other accessories can be slotted into the holes to hang objects.
String’s shelving system also now comes in an on-trend brown that complements their wooden shelves and units. String describes the tone as earthy and rich, ‘a colour in between colours, like umami for the eyes!’
Images courtesy String furniture, photography by Marcus Lawlett
New from New Works
Danish brand New Works presented its novelties in a series of intimate, tonal rooms styled by Lotta Agaton Interiors. New products for 2020 include the Missing Chair by Croatian design studio Regular Company – a light, stackable chair with an elegantly thin, steel frame. A little like Artek’s Rope chair, it’s described as a ‘simple line drawing has sprung into life’.
The Florence table, designed in-house at New Works, now comes as a coffee and side table with a rounded black marble table top and black steel frame. The Tense pendant by Panter & Tourron is a delicate light with a cloud-like shade made of recyclable Tyvek membrane. All the components, including the cord and slimline LED light source come cleverly packaged in a tube for easy transportation. My favourite design is the Pleat pitcher by Copenhagen-Based designer Omayra Maymo. The polished stainless steel pitcher features a simple dent that allows the perfect spout to be formed.
Images courtesy New Works
Northern celebrates 15 years
Norwegian brand Northern celebrates its 15 year anniversary with a number of new products for 2020. First up is a new wall version of the Balancer lamp by Yuue – the versatile design, with its characterful bulb, can be adjusted to direct light where needed. The Oaki chair, inspired by the simplicity of traditional Japanese wood craftsmanship, now comes as a new lounge chair with a large, generous, curved back. The round seat fits perfectly with the circular design of the Row rugs by Studio Terhedebrügge – the lined design as inspired by a birds-eye view of a rural landscape.
My favourite new design of Northern’s is the new Mass side table by Roee Magdassi. The compact table with its curved, graphic profile, looks part sculpture, part piece of minimalist furniture.
Images courtesy Northern, photography Chris Tonnesen.
Assemble by destroyers/builders for valerie_objects
The Assemble sofa is the largest, most ambitious piece of furniture yet for Belgian-based design brand valerie–objects. Designed by destroyers/builders and made in Italy, it’s conceived as various modular elements – from poufs and side tables to single seaters and corner pieces – that can be slotted together and assembled into endless configurations. ‘This universal fit was a very important feature in my design process’, explains Linde Freya Tangelder of destroyers/builders. The rounded shape of the design was inspired by weathered pebble stones and the remains of used soaps.
Images courtesy valerie_objects
