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How (A Mini) Stockholm Design Week 2022 Redefined Scandi Furniture
Mini Stockholm Design Week took place from 7 to 13 February 2022 at a variety of venues across the Swedish capital. The designs on show during the week caused many pundits to rethink how they see Scandi furniture, with brands becoming more experimental and iterating on classic modalities for a new world.
We saw a host of new items on display, from contemporary lounge chairs, to geometric dining tables and lamps. Incredibly, each item was distinctly Scandi but also retained a certain uniqueness. One of the most notable exhibits was Eikund’s release of an updated version of their iconic Hunter lounge chair. The solid wooden frame hadn’t changed, but the saddle leather seat, complete with taut buckles, was an eye-catcher and totally original. Matteo Fogale also introduced a caret table lamp he designed for the well-known Danish brand &Tradition. The piece resembles the type of lamp you might find in a banker’s office in early to mid-twentieth century London or New York, a classic. Fogale gave the lamp striking geometric lines and beautiful colour variations. Made from lacquered steel, the lamp is built to endure the test of time and is the perfect warm edition to any interior.
Eikund’s rerelease of their iconic Hunter lounge chair
In celebration of the new style, Eikund also created a limited edition throw to go with the chair
Matteo Fogale’s Caret table lamp for &Tradition is reminiscent of a banker’s lamp
Massproductions was another hot contender for the most interesting piece of furniture seen during the week. The Swedish brand showcased a minimalist chaise longue built using pieces of wood with a single cushion for the head. Material options, the brand said, include darker cherry wood and warm-toned Douglas fir, with all models made from laminated, formed wood. Interestingly, in keeping with the Scandi theme, Massproductions also said that there was a self-build version on the way, where customers would be able to build the piece from scratch using basic tools from any local hardware store. The idea of DIYing a piece of high quality Scandinavian furniture (sorry, IKEA) is a new an exciting concept that we hope comes to fruition!
Other brands used the design week to introduce new styles of seating. For instance, Verpan reimagined the cloverleaf sofa, originally designed by Vernor Panton in 1969, bringing it back to life for both indoors and outdoors. Those of you looking to include the sofa in your home can buy bookcase accessories and a rug to go with it for the cherry on the top. Jenni Roininen introduced a bench she designed for the Finnish brand Nikari made from woven paper and oak. The simple wooden design features Woodpecker fabric, which is made primarily of undyed paper, spun and woven in a special process. Thomas Bernstrand created ‘Lumo’ for the Swedish light maker, Zero Lighting. The pendent lamp can be hung solo or combined with other lamps, for a statement look. The lamps feature perfectly conical shades with no embellishments, making them easy to use around the house and work space – Scandi versatility at its finest. And last but not least, Swedish brand Moci introduced a minimalist dining table with eye-catching rounded corners and legs – the table, made of solid oak with a veneer top, also received RUM Magazine’s design award earlier in the year – proof that simple, exquisite craftsmanship and harmonious materials can stand out!
Jenni Roininen designed the Detalji bench for Nikari from woven paper and oak
The Lumo Pendant for ZERO Lighting byThomas Bernstrand
Asplund’s MOCI dining table was voted ‘Furniture of the Year 2002’ at the RUM Design Awards
Overall, Stockholm Design Week proved that, despite the pandemic-induced hiatus, Scandinavian design is still going strong. International demand is back, and we’ve seen many of these items popping up in people’s home and offices already. Make sure you tune into the fully fledged version of Stockholm Design Week happening from 5th to 11th September 2022 for more inspirational Scandi design!
