You’ve already had a little glimpse of a couple of things that caught my eye at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen – this minimalist apartment interior and this unique hotel stay. Today I’m sharing a round-up of the latest furniture launches from our favourite Scandi brands and the new designs to look forward to. From chairs made of upcycled coffee waste to modular shelving and more, there’s lots of simple, minimalist design to bookmark and be inspired by.
Ferm LIVING
If you ever find yourself in Copenhagen, make sure to pay a visit to Ferm LIVING’s home and boutique, housed in an old military building next to the water on Christianshavn. The impressive 450 sq m space was lovingly renovated and transformed by ferm LIVING to create their first ever retail space. Inside, you’re invited into the immersive world of ferm LIVING, curated to give a warm, homely feel, pairing their newest designs with plants, coffee table books and shoppable vintage finds the founder Trine Andersen has picked up from travels.
This is where ferm LIVING showcased their SS22 collection and latest launches for 3 Days of Design. The new Rico lounge chair instantly caught my attention with its monochrome, striped upholstery. Part of a collaboration with Louisiana (my favourite museum in the world), the striped, linen-based textile was inspired by the modernist architecture of the museum, in particular the wooden slats and black window frames that define the gallery spaces. There was also a push towards improved sustainability with ferm LIVING’s Ark chair. The simple, honest design takes its form from the standard dimensions of solid wooden planks, thereby reducing wood waste and enabling the chair to be disassembled and delivered flatpack. It comes in a bold blue and oiled ash finish, and is available as a dining chair, kids chair and high chair.
Elsewhere, I think you’ll love their Part bedspread and cushions, which feature a contemporary patchwork of linen and organic cotton squares inspired by the traditional technique of Korean Pojagi.
All images courtesy Ferm Living
Carl Hansen & Son
For 3 Days of Design, Carl Hansen & Son shone a spotlight on Danish master architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. Lauritzen, a pioneer of Danish functionalism, designed some of Copenhagen’s most iconic cultural institutions and modern masterpieces, including the concert hall Radiohuset and music venue Vega.
For the first time, in collaboration with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, Carl Hansen & Son have launched the VLA26 Vega chair to a wider audience. The lightweight, stackable chair was first designed in 1956 for what was then known as Folkets Hus (the People’s House), a universal meeting place for the labour movement, before the building was restored and became a concert venue in 1996. The design has (to me) the look of an insect, with a black powder coated steel frame and a gently curved oak seat and back.
The Foyer Series, meanwhile, was designed by Lauritzen in 1945 for the foyer of Copenhagen’s Radiohuset. The collection comprises a bench, sofa and lounge chair with a simple, sculptural oak frame and buttoned upholstery in raw leather.
The VLA26 Vega chair is available from October 2022.
All images courtesy Carl Hansen & Son
New Works
New Works’ showroom is always a calm, elegant haven of neutral tones and soft aesthetics. If you want to know how to decorate with beige and get the tonal look, then look no further.
For 3 Days of Design, New Works’ exhibition was curated by none other than Lotta Agaton Interiors. Inspired by tailored menswear and classic interiors, Agaton styled an elegant interior that celebrated craftsmanship and timeless design. There was a sense of harmony and balance in the space, whether that was from the backdrop of earthy browns tones and soft creamy hues, or from the formal lounge areas that paired soft curves with rectangular shapes with rounded edges. I loved the material richness of the space and the layering of relaxed linen, travertine, corduroy and wood.
New releases from New Works include the New Works Shelving System. Designed by Knut Bendik Humlevik, it’s a modular wall shelf that’s versatile enough to fit into a variety of settings. Available in walnut, black-stained ash and white, it combines simple shelves with angular wall bars that act as bookends. I loved the look of the Atlas coffee tables too. Stockholm-based designer John Astbury has taken inspiration from architectural history to create a simple tabletop on solid, Brutalist-style legs. It comes in marble or travertine.
All images courtesy New Works
Kristina Dam Studio celebrates 10 years
Kristina Dam Studio took the moment of 3 Days of Design to celebrate 10 years of the brand’s clean, contemporary aesthetic, titled ‘Sculptural Minimalism’. The design studio has come a long way since 2012, when it was founded by graphic designer Kristina Dam with a series of limited-edition illustrations. Now the brand boasts furniture, textiles and sculptures that will add a statement to any room.
In the setting of the home of creative director Kim Grenaa, Kristina Dam Studio curated an intimate show of her most popular sculptures and newest designs. The industrial style apartment was the perfect backdrop for Kristina Dam’s minimalist pieces, which all have a strong graphic identity. Inspired by architecture and craftsmanship, Dam describes her interior objects as ‘artworks for your home’.
For 2022, Kristina Dam Studio introduces the ‘Frame vol. 2’ anniversary collection, which includes the new Outline Desk. The steel frame and solid oak tabletop and drawers gives the design a solid, sturdy look that feels both classic and contemporary.
Images courtesy Kristina Dam Studio
Wastedream by Mater
For 3 Days of Design, Mater showcased ‘Wastedream – the Danish brand’s vision for the future. Mater is at the forefront of sustainability, championing the (re)use of waste to create thoughtful, contemporary furniture. In a 300 sq m exhibition space, Mater showcased how they were turning plastic waste, coffee shells and sawdust into new materials and innovative design pieces. This first started when Mater re-released the Ocean outdoor collection, originally designed in 1955 by Nanna and Joergen Ditzel, with a seat made of used fishnet and plastic waste.
Mater’s new Børge Mogensen Conscious collection takes Mogensen’s classic school chair, the BM3162 chair, and sees it relaunched in a new upcycled waste material. The seat and backrest of the 1950s design are moulded from a mix of discarded coffee shells or wood fibres leftover from furniture production, mixed with industrial plastic waste, while the base is crafted from FSC certified wood.
The Eternity collection, designed by Space Copenhagen, meanwhile, is made of waste from the coffee roasting process, mixed with plastic waste from GROHE. The stackable shell chair is available with upholstery partly made by reusing scraps from Kvadrat’s yarn spinners in the UK.
Images courtesy Mater
&tradition
&tradition invited festival goers into their home and headquarters, housed in an intimate 20th century mansion in central Copenhagen. The spaces, arranged around a stunning central staircase, were transformed by Italian design studio Studioutte to highlight the connection between art and design. A room for visitors to gather and engage in conversation was lit by a cascade of paper Formakami lamps, while other spaces used contrasting, industrial materials and bold tones to give a rich, sophisticated feel.
&Tradition’s latest launches include an 120th anniversary edition of Arne Jacobsen’s Bellevue lamp, available in two finishes: white or grey with bronzed brass. My personal fave is the cute Caret lamp. Designed by Matteo Fogale, this portable design is inspired by traditional green-shaded lamps found in public libraries. It’s made of lacquered steel and comes in dark burgundy or silk grey.
All images courtesy &tradition
Gubi
For 3 Days of Design, Gubi celebrated the joy of al fresco living by opening up its extensive showroom in Nordhavn with an exhibition of outdoor furniture. On show were new collections by 20th century visionaries such as Joe Colombo as well as contemporary designers like GamFratesi.
The Basket collection by Joe Colombo has been relaunched by Gubi after decades of not being in production. First produced in the late 1960s, the retro design makes a departure from Colombo’s futuristic style in synthetic materials, with a seat in textural handwoven rattan. Where Colombo previously designed an inner fibreglass shell, Gubi has created a more environmentally friendly skeleton made of steel. I can attest that it’s insanely comfortable; the cloud-like curves of the rounded cushions hug your body and invite you to sink right in.
The famous Beetle chair by GamFratesi has been given a makeover in 3D wood veneer. The new iteration of the 2013 design features a separate backrest and seat connected by internal spring-steel brackets invisible to the eye. 3D technology allowed the designers to push the design, experiment with new processes and create a moulded shell using a bending press. The Beetle chair now comes in light oak and American walnut veneers.
My top pick of the show was the Doric coffee table by GamFratesi. Inspired by classic Doric architecture, which is traditionally characterised by symmetry and simplicity, the design features a leg design that has been carved with a curved shape. The feature gives the monolithic design a soft, sculptural quality that nods to the classical features of ancient Greek and Roman buildings. It’s available in two types of natural stone: Neutral white travertine, and my favourite, Electric Gray limestone.
All images courtesy Gubi
