As part of its international expansion, Danish furniture manufacturer Carl Hansen & Søn has opened a new 350 sq m flagship store in the Östermalm area of Stockholm, which is becoming a hub for high-end design companies.
The space, a former bank, has been completely transformed by Vasco Trigueiros from design duo Trigueiros Architecture. Concrete columns have a new, spiky terracotta finish. A flat wall has been given a wavy structure. And the typical dark, gloomy bank interior (including thick concrete walls protecting the vaults and lowered ceilings) is now a light and airy space. ‘This has been achieved, among other things, by working with open surfaces and transparency, as well as with architectural elements such as columns and extraordinarily high ceilings,’ Trigueiros explains.
Several impressive skylights highlight the many design classics on show, including the ‘Wishbone’ chair by Hans Wegner and the ‘Colonial’ line by Ole Wanscher. Other impressive updates abound too, including Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Society Table’ – originally designed in 1952 as a gift for the American-Scandinavian Foundation in New York – as well as the ‘PK1’ wicker chair by Poul Kjærholm, from 1955.
The new Carl Hansen & Søn flagship store in Stockholm.
Although grand in size, the space is neutral in personality, and sticks to a paired-down colour scheme. ‘We wanted to bring in a reflection of Stockholm, known for its minimalist and functional design. The furniture should have focal point,’ says Knud Erik Hansen, the company’s CEO and third-generation owner.
In a digital era, he highlights the importance of a physical space where people can touch and feel the products before ordering them online. The store is divided into two areas – one offering inspiration for the home and the other targeted at a professional clientele. ‘This space should not be about hard selling, it is a way for people to discover our unique heritage,’ says Hansen.
Every step is a reminder of fine, Danish craftsmanship. For instance, a solid Dinesen Douglas floor stretches across the showroom; almost floating into it is a shiny concrete tier. It’s a nice nod to the outside neighbourhood, where 100-year-old tree trunks stand tall alongside the gravel-covered esplanade.
The space has been designed by Vasco Trigueiros of Trigueiros Architectures
Solid Dinesen Douglas floor stretches across the showroom; almost floating into it is a shiny concrete tier
The formerly gloomy bank interior (including thick concrete walls protecting the vaults and lowered ceilings) is now a light and airy space
Trigueiros points out the ‘open surfaces and transparency’ of his design
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Carl Hansen & Søn website
ADDRESS
Karlavägen 76
Stockholm
114 59
Sweden
-
Unlike the gloriously grotesque imagery in his films, Yorgos Lanthimos’ photographs are quietly beautifulAn exhibition at Webber Gallery in Los Angeles presents Yorgos Lanthimos’ photography
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacyDavid M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
-
At the Institute of Indology, a humble new addition makes all the differenceContinuing the late Balkrishna V Doshi’s legacy, Sangath studio design a new take on the toilet in Gujarat
-
Room for three and an inbuilt TV: this playful new bed reimagines intimacySwedish designer Gustaf Westman and ‘alternative’ dating app Feeld have collaborated to create a three-person bed that blurs the line between function and fun
-
Vincent Van Duysen ‘inspired by modernism’ for Molteni & C’s outdoor furniture debutMolteni & C goes alfresco with two new collections and reissued classics, bringing its signature elegance to the great outdoors
-
First look inside Centurion New York by Yabu PushelbergCenturion New York is an expansive new space for American Express’ ‘black card’ members. Its interior designers Yabu Pushelberg give us a tour
-
Arne Jacobsen’s lamps for St Catherine’s College are now available from Louis PoulsenLouis Poulsen present the ‘AJ Oxford Table Lamp’ series, conceived by Arne Jacobsen for St Catherine's College, Oxford, and now put into production for the first time
-
Is this the most beautiful office in the world?Parisian creative agency Art Recherche Industrie’s new HQ translates a 19th-century landmark into a chic open-plan office worth leaving home for
-
Designer James Shaw’s latest creation is a self-built home in east LondonJames Shaw's east London home is Filled with vintage finds and his trademark extruded plastic furniture, a compact self-built marvel
-
Alexander Lervik’s ‘Hemvist’ wooden furniture was crafted using a technique for making stairsStockholm Design Week 2023: Alexander Lervik and wooden stair manufacturer Drömtrappor present a new collection of furniture at his recently opened design gallery, Unikat
-
Taschen tantalises with new edition of Jorge Pardo’s ‘Brussels Lamps’German publishing house Taschen launches a limited-edition series of five ‘Brussels Lamps’ by Cuban-American artist Jorge Pardo
