News from the North

Stockholm always keeps its promises. It has once more been demonstrated that Sweden's capital city has become the most important forum for Scandinavia's furniture and design industry, and rightfully so. The fair has for many years invested heavily in a worthwhile programme of events, clearly segmented exhibition halls and generous accommodation facilities for international journalists, with a view to attracting them to Stockholm. This year the Dutch designer Ineke Hans was invited to put on a display in the entrance hall, where she used masses of blue light to create an unusual prelude to the otherwise conventional exhibition halls. At the same time the relaxed atmosphere and friendly Swedish welcome also inspired visitors to move on after their day at the fair and attend the numerous events which are held in the city. These were listed in an excellently designed guide to the fair. No wonder that in spite of the economic crisis Sweden has no shortage of international visitors.

This year Architonic was represented for the first time with its own stand, the Concept Space II. In the entrance hall, right next to the special exhibition by Ineke Hans, we were really delighted with the positive response to our work, and of course we enjoyed the opportunity both of welcoming old friends and making new acquaintances.

As expected, most Scandinavian manufacturers took advantage of the Stockholm furniture fair as an occasion to present their new products, and the high general quality level was impressive. We have once more put together a selection of these for you, with a second part to follow.

After it had been mothballed for a number of years this year the time seemed to be right for the Pebble suite by the German designers Osko+Deichmann, with the Swedish manufacturers Blå Station spontaneously deciding to make Pebble part of their collection. The Berlin designers derived their inspiration from a pebble which they found in their studio and a white vein running through the stone was the visual model for the wire frame of the upholstery of the seat and backrest. In addition to its structural function this element gives the rounded, amply upholstery its reduced, graphic texture.

Also for Blå Station the Swedish designer Fredrik Mattson presented a suite of furniture with optional high backrests to provide the occupant with an acoustically and spatially sealed off place of retreat – a concept which has been implemented recently by a number of manufacturers. Mattson himself uses a diversity of fabrics and upholstery and cushion sizes to give 'Koja' (which can best be translated as 'nook') an improvised feeling, once more suggesting cosy Swedish warmth.

Last year the young lighting firm of Wästberg showed its products for the first time at the Stockholm furniture fair and impressed with designs by Jean-Marie Massaud, James Irvine and Claesson Koivisto Rune, among others. This year the company is once more prominently represented, with the table lamp by the Chinese designer Michael Young attracting a great deal of attention among the new creations. The star-shaped metal profile on the round marble base (the photo shows a prototype with a base still made of corian) can be turned at two points, which makes it possible to rotate the light source through 360° without depriving the arm of the lamp of its dynamism.

Taf Standart by the architect duo TAF was presented by the Swedish manufacturer NC Möbler, and its logical simplicity could hardly be exceeded. The shelves and cupboard units are wedged into a frame of rail sections mounted in a staggered way and then secured by tiny pins which disappear into the transverse sections.

The chair presented by Sweden's Björn Dahlström makes an almost ironic impression. The fact that it's an office chair is revealed above all by the demonstratively attached fifth castor.

The Danish manufacturer of table tops and accessories Norman Copenhagen presented its first furniture collection in Stockholm, giving it the title "New Danish Modern". In view of the worldwide prestige of Danish furniture this is a major statement which promises a great deal. And indeed the 'Camping' series of bentwood furniture by Jesper K. Thomsen displays outstanding craftsmanship and has a pleasingly reserved, transparent form – a promise kept, in other words.

The backrests and seats of 'Olive', the conference chair from Swedese, are exchangeable. The fact that the two elements have a number of different silhouettes means that a total of 20 differently shaped chairs can be produced. This has an unusual effect on any arrangement of conference chairs by enabling a kind of fluidity and movement to develop, which can hopefully help to break down the strict atmosphere which such occasions often have.