Scandinavia's leading design festival is always a well-anticipated event, boasting new products and fresh talent aplenty. This year, the sprawling halls of the Stockholmsmässan revealed a varied trove of launches this year, as design pilgrims from across the globe flocked to the 2016 edition of the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair.
Welcoming visitors in from the cold was an installation by design duo Barber & Osgerby, who inherited the distinction of this year’s Guest of Honour from fellow London-based designer Ilse Crawford. Triptych recalls the pair’s impressions of Nordic winters, featuring animal hides and sheepskins draped across oak benches.
The installation was divided into three distinct areas, separated by felt screens produced by Nordifa and featuring furniture by the pair for Knoll, Vitra and B&B Italia. ‘Each space offers the visitor an environment for relaxation, meeting and working under a canopy of paper lanterns,’ say Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby.
Inside the main halls, Atelier 2+ flexed its green thumb with a greenhouse for Design House Stockholm. Nearby, Klong was in the mood to entertain with a sideboard by Ania Pauser, and a drinks trolley by Broberg & Ridderstrale; Berlin-based design studio My Kilos presented the tastily inspired ‘Black Stracciatella’ collection; and Kullaro took a moment of reflection between the main halls, presenting an arched standing mirror.
Swedish designer Alexander Lervik’s name cropped up repeatedly throughout the halls, where he unveiled several new projects with a raft of brands including chairs, tables and a lamp for Tingest and a wall hanging system for Absolut Art. Outside of the fair, the omnipresent designer took over the windows of Stockholm department store NK with a kinetic installation of his new launches; inside, he presented a particularly memorable residential elevator for Aritco.
Elsewhere in Stockholm, Form Us With Love celebrated a decade of design at Sweden’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts; Wästberg joined forces with Massproductions for a new showroom in Hammarby quay; and Staffan Holm's sculptural glassworks stole the show at Designgalleriet.
Back at the fair, we stepped into the hot seat, with new chairs and sofas by the likes of Normann Copenhagen, Fritz Hansen, Lars Beller Fjetland, Articles, Gemla, Per Soderberg and more.
Other brands left a lasting impression by going big and bold with their stand design. Italian lighting stalwart Foscarini and Taiwanese design studio NakNak both vyed for the most Instagram-worthy booth at the fair, while Kinnarp invited us into their two-storey, mock house. Bolon tapped Doshi Levien for a stand that had curves in all the right places; while we gravitated towards Flos’ pitch-black stand in the main hall, where its lighting collection was presented sparingly across large containers.
The fair’s platform for new and emerging designers – the ever-popular Greenhouse – proved fruitful. Here, Stockholm-based studio Oyyo’s graphic textiles caught our eye. Canadian outfit MSDS Studio put a contemporary spin on 17th century designs with new collection ‘Source Materials’, while fellow Canuck Thom Fougere’s coffee table made from Tyndall stone was also noteworthy. It’s a promising sign of the shape of things to come.
Swedish design brand Asplund led the new Nordic charge with new launches that included the 'Plectra' sofa tables (left) and 'Belle' shelf and rack system.
'Mesh' sideboard, by Asplund.
Stockholm-based Massproductions launched the free-standing 'Endless' shelving system (background). 'The shelves make a rhythmically billowing wall, creating new rooms within a room,' say the designers.
Massproduction's signature chair collection 'Tio' also received a new lease of life, presented here in several new colourways.
Left: Normann Copenhagen placed visitors in the hot seat with it's 'Form' chair. Right: Kullaro took a moment of reflection between the main halls, presenting an arched standing mirror.
Seating came in all manner of styles and shapes, from razor-thin silhouettes to more bulbous forms. Left: 'Steel Chair', by Göhlin. Right: 'Bollo' armchair, by Fogia
Fledging Taiwanese design studio NakNak – which made its debut only last year at the Swedish fair, vyed for the most Instagram-genic booth.
Alexander Lervik proved to be an omnipresent force at the fairgrounds. The Swedish designer presented several new products with a raft of brands including the 'Dimma' chair (pictured), stool and table, and the 'Mikrofon' pendant light for Tingest.
'Mr Jones' easy chair, by Alexander Lervik, for Adea
‘Cold Cooler’ (left), by Claesson Koivisto Rune; and ‘Little Big Ear’ espresso cup, by Luca Nichetto, both for Smaller Objects
Stockholm-based architect and designer Per Söderberg expanded his No Early Birds collection with the 'NEB' range of marble tables and stools.
Swedese presented the 'Shift' side table, and 'Drum' stands.
Atelier 2+ also flexed its green thumb with a greenhouse for Design House Stockholm
Republic of Fritz Hansen revitalised its classic ‘Oxford’ chair dishing up two new versions of the seat originally designed by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen in 1965
'Vowel' shelving, by Design Keisuke Kawase
Young Stockholm-based studio Oyyo’s graphic textiles, 'Enni' (left) and 'Nadi', caught our eye
Swedish firm Bolon tapped London-based design duo Doshi Levien for a stand design that had curves in all the right places.
Bolon launched a flexible flooring collection, 'Bolon By You', which allows architects to create customised woven flooring by choosing from six patterns, twelve weft colours and four warp colours
Foscarini's crimson booth drew attention from fairgoers.
'Kuusikko' shelving unit (left) and 'Palat' serving trolley, both by Studio Maiju Uski
it was a family affair at Lightwork, where interior stylist Saša Antić collaborated with Hüseyin Turgut on a lighting collection, dubbed 'Eximius', inspired by his niece, sister, mother and father (and one 'self-portrait' of sorts).
Carl Hansen & Son has recreated one of Hans J Wegner’s early designs: the 1950 'CH22' lounge chair
Canuck Thom Fougere’s coffee table made from Tyndall stone was a noteworthy design from the Greenhouse, the fair’s platform for new and emerging designers
Elsewhere in Stockholm, Form Us With Love celebrated a decade of design at Sweden’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts
Lervik extended his reach beyond the fairgrounds, staging a takeover of Swedish department store NK's windows to showcase his new wares, including his 'Storm' table for Johanson
'Reform' table and 'Dandy' chairs, both by Alexander Lervik, for Johanson
Wästberg joined forces with Massproductions for a new Guise-designed showroom in the city's Hammarby quay...
...and Staffan Holm's sculptural glassworks stole the show at Designgalleriet
Back at the main fair, Gärsnäs expanded and renewed some of its core collections at its Pierre Sindre-designed stand.
It added an easy chair to its 'Pop' seating collection, which takes inspiration from early 1970s silk scarfs by Hermès and the timeless rattan handbags by saddle maker Palmgrens.
Berlin-based design studio My Kilos presented the tastily inspired ‘Black Stracciatella’ collection
Detail of 'Winwin' table (left) and 'Howdoyoudo' armchair, both by Articles.
'Mopsy' table, by Markus Johansson, for Karl Andersson & Söner
'Hive' lighting, by Mario Tsai, for ZZ Design Studio
'Basket' table, by Mario Tsai, for ZZ Design Studio
Canadian outfit MSDS Studio put a contemporary spin on 17th century designs with new collection ‘Source Materials’
Side table and lamp, both by MSDS Studio
'Sailor' chair, by Wingård/Wingård, for Minus Tio.
Erik Jørgensen unveiled an accompanying table to its 'Savannah' sofa, both designed by Monica Förster
'Savannah' tables, by Monica Förster, for Erik Jørgensen. Förster says: 'The "Savannah" series features natural Scandinavian materials, so it seems more fitting to use granite. The beautiful joinery combined with the solid granite top creates a uniquely Scandinavian sensation'
INFORMATION
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair ran from 9–13 February. For more information, visit the website
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