Stockholm Design Week, a surprise new look for Finland’s Iittala, more outdoor furniture for spring and summer, a crop of new Scandi chairs, and Svenkst Tenn celebrates its 100th birthday – it’s the March Nordic Home & Design Update from Nordic Watchlist!
Stockholm Design Week
While one of the most talked about launches at Stockholm Design Week was not Nordic – it was a new South Korean design and lifestyle brand called Wekino – there was a lot of great new design from the region being unveiled.
Swedish designer Gustaf Westman had a room full of interesting shapes and bright colours, Stockholm-based Massproductions showcased its modular furniture – in far more classically muted Nordic tones – and Swedish lighting brand Wästberg was promoting its cool w241Faro lights, designed in collaboration with British architect/designer David Chipperfield.
But the real surprise of the week was Iittala’s new brand. Gone was the minimalist, timelessness of Finland’s much-loved glass and ceramics brand, and in was a bright yellow logo that looks a little more like an Italian fashion label.
Svenskt Tenn’s 100-year jubilee
Sweden’s Svenskt Tenn marked its 100th anniversary during Stockholm Design Week. Known around the world for its colourful fabrics, the company celebrated its birthday with the launch of textile print ‘Svenskt Tenn Est. 1924’ — a design originally named “Stockholm” when it was created by its most famous designer Josef Frank in 1949/50.
There are around 250 Josef Frank textile prints preserved in Svenskt Tenn’s archives, the most popular have been used for curtains, cushion covers and furniture coverings and regarded as modern Swedish classics.
New designs from Swedese
Another classic Swedish design company Swedese used Stockholm Design Week to unveil two new pieces of furniture. First up is Luna, a really beautiful desk designed by Broberg & Ridderstråle. The design duo took their inspiration from a grand piano to create the exquisite curves on this compact desk.
Then we have the Pillo armchair, which is the latest addition to the Pillo product family. Designed by Khodi Feiz, the new chair features contemporary, sustainable biofoam, but has an unmistakably mid-century look and feel.
BEasy chairs from Skandiform
And still in Sweden, Skandiform has unveiled the BEasy easy wingback chairs, designed by Stefan Borselius and Ruud Ekstrand. Described by the company as “contemporary yet classic” and “a symbol of unity and diversity” these beautiful high-back chairs are all about tranquillity and relaxation.
String Furniture’s modular Relief system
And we still can’t get away from Sweden. String Furniture – famous for its modular shelving – has launched a new modular storage system called Relief, designed by the award-winning TAF Studio. Relief comprises chests of drawers and hook rails of different sizes and colours that can be connected together as room dividers or be used as standalone pieces. The items in the system are made from wood and veneered MDF.
A Light from Zero Lighting
Zero Lighting – yes, based in Sweden – has just released the somewhat unimaginatively named A Light. Designed by Jens Fager, the pendant light is far better than its name, featuring an inner and an outer shade that prevents dazzle and gives it a wonderful Nordic form. The inner and outer shades come in a variety colours and finishes.
Fritz Hansen Tradition outdoor series
At last over in Denmark, Fritz Hansen has gone live with new outdoor furniture range Tradition. The new modular lounge series brings a certain Danish sophistication to the outdoor. Designed for Fritz Hansen by Povl B. Eskildsen – a Danish designer noted for his graphic simplicity – the Tradition series is produced in teak, with simple elegant cushions.
The new Mat chair collection from Normann Copenhagen
Mat is a new chair collection from Normann Copenhagen, and its already a favourite with Nordic Watchlist. The 3D shell chair features highly renewable, durable materials of hemp and eelgrass – a type of seaweed.
With years in testing and development, Normann is looking to revolutionize conventional furniture production methods through minimising environmental impact, repurposing and facilitating end-of-life recycling. But these chairs are not just about cutting-edge sustainability, there also classical cool.
Bruno Matthson celebrated at Stockholm museum
Swedish furniture designer Bruno Mathsson was a titan in Nordic design, arguably most famous for his Pernilla chair and footstool. And until 7th April, the Sven-Harrys konstmuseum in Stockholm is showing his timeless furniture together with 35 Nordic designers who have been awarded the prestigious Bruno Mathsson prize.
The exhibition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Nordics’ largest design award, which is awarded annually by the Karin and Bruno Mathsson Foundation.
Book a stay at Vipp’s remote one-room guesthouse
Finally, if you’re a lover Vipp’s bins and soap dispensers and other Danish household classics, then you might just want to book yourself a stay at the brand’s new one-room guesthouse. Cold Hawaii is the latest in a growing portfolio of bookable one-room guesthouses created by Vipp, featuring exquisite Danish design and of course Vipp products.
Designed by architect studio Hahn Lavsen, the 185 m² guesthouse, sits proudly on its own amid the untamed coastal landscape of the Thy National Park in Northwest Jutland, Denmark.
Tim will be back next month with another round up of updates from the world of Scandinavian interiors and design!
