3daysofdesign 2022 – Review
Ten out of three
Fritz Hansen
For its 150th anniversary, the Danish furniture manufacturer offered its products a special stage: the architecture firm Henning Larsen designed a spacious pavilion made of wood, which was constructed in the courtyard of the newly restored Designmuseum Denmark. Thanks to the lamellar structure of the building and the alternation of closed and open areas, a lot of daylight enters the rooms. In these, the anniversary collection including the "PK0A" chair and "PK60" coffee table by Poul Kjærholm was presented for the first time. In addition, Fritz Hansen presented the "Oneline" pendant lamp by the Danish artist Kasper Kjeldgaard as well as an installation created especially by him. Also on display were the designs to be launched in spring 2022 as well as an exclusive preview of the new products to be released in the second half of this year. The pavilion included ample space for an extensive talk programme. Aligned with the principles of circular design, Designmuseum Denmark will continue to use the building as a platform for workshops, school seminars and lectures over the summer. Afterwards, the materials from the pavilion will be recycled as part of the redesign of the Fritz Hansen headquarters.
Kristina Dam
"Sculptural minimalism" is how Kristina Dam calls her design approach, creating designs with her team that combine a graphic expression with natural materials for a timeless design. Based on her training in graphic design as well as architecture and inspired by the teachings of the Bauhaus, her designs show a pleasant clarity and natural aesthetics in material and colouring. The range of works extends from furniture and lighting to accessories and illustrations. On the occasion of the 3daysofdesign, Kristina Dam opened her studio in a backyard of Copenhagen near Frederik's Church, thus offering guests the opportunity to explore the designs in the creative atmosphere of her workplace.
+Halle
In the new showroom, +Halle not only showed new designs, but also offered a talk on "producing" with designers and architects from BIG, Form Us With Love and Raw Edges. Discussions were held about their experiences of briefing and collaborating as well as the challenges of production. All +Halle products are manufactured according to Danish environmental standards. The wood comes from certified forestry and the metal parts are made of 99 per cent recyclable steel. The foams and fabrics are also developed and tested in compliance with Scandinavian standards. In addition to the "Torno Chair" by Form Us With Love, the "Boulevard" bench by MSDS Studio and the "Summit" modular sofa landscape by Snøhetta, people were also allowed to take a seat on the new "Sui" armchair by Raw Edges: With a swivel joint under the seat and a semi-circular wooden surface that partly encloses the armchair, it offers both a temporary workplace and a communicative seating sculpture. Thanks to a fully equipped kitchen and a secluded terrace, the +Halle showroom will continue to serve as a meeting place for creative exchange.
Normann Copenhagen
Orange was the colour of the hour at Normann Copenhagen: "The Orange Edit" brought a burst of positive energy and visual warmth. All three floors of the former print workshop, which now serves as Normann Copenhagen's showroom, are bathed in shades of orange. In this energetic setting, visitors were able to discover, among other things, the new "Off Chair", an interpretation of the classic work chair, the minimalist "Drape" lounge chair, the voluminous "Ark" sofa with modular construction, and the new "Coil", "Klip" and "Puff" lamp collections. In addition, a pop-up bar in the courtyard offered cool drinks and space for relaxed networking. The exhibition will remain open in the following months.
Gubi
Gubi's showroom in a former tobacco factory in Copenhagen's Docklands has a total area of 2000 square metres and thus offers an airy product presentation as well as sufficient space for the employees' workplaces. On display was a re-edition of the "Basket" collection by Joe Colombo, which brings rattan tubes into organic forms for sofas and a lounge chair, as well as a further development of the "Beetle" chair by GamFratesi with a 3-D veneer shell and the duo's "Doric" side tables. Made of travertine or limestone, these achieve the balancing act between solid material and elegant form - the square or rectangular tops rest on legs that look as if they have been carved with an arched recess.
Mattiazzi
With an exhibition in the Italian embassy, Mattiazzi, a family business specialising in wood processing, took part in the 3daysofdesign for the first time this year and showed an excerpt of the products of the last two years in combination with design classics. Since the list of designers Mattiazzi has been working with for years reads like a Who's Who of the design scene, it was no surprise that none other than Konstantin Grcic designed the exhibition. He separated an area of the room at the window surface with a squared timber, placed the chair models next to each other and put an LED light bulb in front of each of them like a Hollywood mirror. In combination with the historic rooms of the Italian embassy, they thus appeared to belong and harmonised with the baroque interior.
Kvadrat
The Kvadrat showroom in Copenhagen's industrial district Nordhavn was under the sign of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec at the 3daysofdesign: the designer duo not only designed the showroom, but also the new "Minimal" mounting system for Kvadrat Shade, which was presented in it. The new roller blind thus offers the essence for a blackout system: a modular, resource-saving construction that can be completely recycled and a minimalist aesthetic. The bracket is made from just a single piece of folded steel. For this purpose, the "Carbon Neutrality Tool" can be used to determine the extent to which "Minimal" contributes to reducing CO2 by reducing the need for heating and cooling through its use, based on different configuration examples.
Hay
The "Hay House", Hay's flagship store in downtown Copenhagen, spans four floors of an art nouveau building and was recently renovated. For the 3daysofdesign and in keeping with its 20th anniversary, Hay offered a colourful whirlwind of products, an installation by Michael Anastassiades and a popular meeting place for designers, journalists and customers. Hay already presented a preview of the new products for autumn 2022, such as the "Pastis Collection" by the French designer Julien Renault, a series of wooden chairs and tables, the "Sobremesa" collection of tableware and table accessories by Laila Gohar or the flexible "Pier" shelving system by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, which reminds one a little of "606" by Dieter Rams. The collaboration between the artist and designer Laila Gohar and Hay was also presented in a talk.
Norr11
The showroom of Norr11 offered an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the 3daysofdesign: minimalist design combined with voluminous upholstery, soft lines and neutral colours invited to take a short break to relax. Like on the "Hippo" sofa by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl or the curvy "Studio Curve" modules, which were also penned by the duo and offer a variety of uses - from corner modules to spacious seating landscapes. The "Hippo Lounge Chair", meanwhile, offers the perfect complement to the ensemble. With natural materials, a characteristic profile and gentle lines, the designs show a sculptural presence in the room without being too dominant.
Menu
Menu's showroom in Nordhavn is located in "The Audo", which offers both co-working and event spaces, a café, a restaurant, a small number of guest rooms and a shop. Guests are thus offered the opportunity to experience and test the products of the house in everyday life. During the 3daysofdesign, Menu offered an exclusive preview of the latest furniture, lighting and home accessories for 2022 as well as a selection of designs from the entire collection. From the "Tearoom Side Chair" by Nick Ross to "The Eclipse Desk" by Fred Rigby Studio and a large selection of portable lamps such as the "Hashira Table Lamp" and "Column Table Lamp" by Norm Architects, the "JWDA Table Lamp" by Jonas Wagell or the "Ray Table Lamp" by Daniel Schofield.
Tipp: D Studio
B&B Italia, Maxalto, Azucena, Arclinea, Flos and Louis Poulsen can be visited in one place in Copenhagen – at D Studio in the exclusive Holmen district, a former naval base. On 1760 square metres, a "design retail destination" has been created that optimally showcases the brands' products and also offers a relaxed atmosphere to take a closer look at them.
