The 3 Days of Design event in Copenhagen was a celebration of Nordic, particularly Danish, design. The showrooms were open to the public, with designers displaying their latest products and the city brimming with fascinating exhibitions. The Finnish Design Shop team was on hand – read our report from Copenhagen!
MENU – New office and hotel, The Audo
Menu has moved its headquarters and showroom to a new multipurpose facility, The Audo, which was opened in the district of Nordhavn during 3 Days of Design. In addition to Menu's office facilities, The Audo brings together a store, restaurant and creative working area, where several carefully curated brands are on display alongside those of Menu. Ten exclusive hotel rooms have been renovated in bold colours and with high-quality materials on the upper floor of the old building. Norm Architects designed the interiors.
“The new space is a hub for powerful ideas, beautiful design and inspiration. Through openness, knowledge-sharing and collaboration, Menu takes a new approach to running a design business. Our move to The Audo highlights the multidisciplinary, unifying nature of design, while serving as a showcase and testing ground for our new concepts”, says Menu’s Chief Design & Brand Officer Joachim Kornbek Hansen.
HAY – The magnificent Lindencrones Palais
Hay presented new furniture, lights and accessories in the historical Lindencrones Palais in central Copenhagen. Hay's new products include About A Chair 100 by Hee Welling, the Bernard easy chair in various colours by Shane Schneck, and the Matin table lamps with their playfully pleated shades by Inga Sempé. Iconic lamps by George Nelson, which the Danish brand has added to its collection, were also on show.
MUUTO – Showroom expands to two floors
After a long renovation, the Muuto showroom opened in Copenhagen city centre during the run up to 3 Days of Design. There is now twice as much space; products for households and public spaces are displayed on separate floors. The facilities have been decorated with a bold but harmonious colour scheme. The renovation created more space for Muuto's offices on the same premises. There is also a rooftop terrace connected to the showroom.
FERM LIVING – A tribute to Copenhagen
In The Home showroom, Ferm Living exhibited its new mini collection, a tribute to Copenhagen, the home city of the popular brand. The collection includes a canvas bag and household textiles, adorned by illustrations which were also painted onto the living room wall of the showroom. We had the chance to talk to Trine Andersen, the founder of Ferm Living. The interview will be published later on Design Stories.
• All products from Ferm Living >
SKAGERAK – Collection now includes lamps
Skagerak, which is known for its high-end outdoor furniture, will add lamps to its collection in the fall. The lamps were designed by John Astbury and Bjørn van den Berg. Other favourites of ours included the new Georg side table and beautiful Aldus dining table by Chris L. Halstrøm.
• All products from Skagerak >
&TRADITION – New products and an inspiring showroom
&Tradition's beautiful showroom next to the King's Garden is one of the Finnish Design Shop team's favourite venues in Copenhagen. In addition to familiar products, the brand presented new products previously introduced in Milan, such as Jaime Hayón's Setago table lamp and Elefy chair. The Bellevue floor lamp, designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1929, is now 90 years old; four new colour schemes were introduced for the collection. Other newcomer was the Flowerpot lamp by Verner Panton in red-brown colour. The new mid-sized version is ideal for installations above dinner tables.
• All products from &Tradition >
FRAMA – Frama Spaces
Frama's Copenhagen Studio Store is on the premises of a pharmacy, St. Pauls Apotek, established in 1878; its wooden shelves and pigeonholes are a reminder of its past. The Senses exhibition, curated by interior stylist & designer Louisa Grey, was on show in the store during 3 Days of Design. Frama has recently obtained access to an apartment which was once the pharmacist's residence, directly above the pharmacy. The 300 square-meter property, which was in poor condition, has been renovated. Paintwork and historical under-layers revealed under the wallpaper have been left on display. Frama's headquarters, photography studio and a small gallery are among the facilities now accommodated in the multispace area called Frama Spaces.
THE FINNISH AMBASSADOR'S RESIDENCE – Nordic Design – With a Finnish Twist
Nikari, Adea and Secto Design participated in the 'Nordic Design – With a Finnish Twist' exhibition together with Iittala, Teemu Järvi and Woodnotes. The Finnish ambassador's residence was stripped of its furniture, which was replaced with selected products by Finnish brands. The modern furniture and lamps fitted in well with their historical setting, creating an enjoyable contrast with the works of art.
GUBI – Preserving the Legacy
During 3 Days of Design, the Institut Français in Copenhagen and Gubi joined forces to present furniture which has been recently relaunched. The furniture was originally created by two legendary French designers, Pierre Paulin and Marcel Gascoin. The French embassy served as the exhibition venue, its magnificent salons providing the furniture with a truly majestic setting. Paulin and Gascoin, two influential designers in postwar France, were ahead of their time, incorporating minimalist Scandinavian forms in their work.
STILLEBEN No. 22 – Luonnos Exhibition
The Luonnos installation was created by the designers Reeta Ek, Salla Luhtasela and Wesley Walters, in cooperation with the Finnish Cultural Institute in Denmark and Stilleben. In place of completed products, the designers were tasked with focusing on the intuitive side of the artistic process, through painting, ceramics and woodwork. There was no precise design brief, leaving them with the freedom to sketch, explore and fail – making new discoveries on the way.
See also:
• Salone del Mobile 2019 – the most interesting exhibitions of Milan Design Week >
Edit: Mikko Vaija Images: Rasmus Palmgren, Maja Karen Hansen, Rory Gardiner, Mikko Vaija and manufacturers