I’m back to blogging after a bit of a hiatus while a big project took up most of my time, and today I’m sharing the beautiful spring-summer 2025 collection from Ferm Living. It takes its inspiration from renowned Danish architect Jørn Utzon and his Mallorcan home, Can Lis, and it’s brimming with appealing shapes, earthy colours and tactile materials.
Most famous for designing the iconic Sydney Opera House, Jørn Utzon (1918-2008) combined the pared-back aesthetics of Nordic tradition with influences from the historic architecture of countries such as Mexico, Morocco and Japan. He often drew on nature, too, incorporating organic forms and repeating patterns into his designs. He even coined a term for it, ‘additive architecture’, and wrote a 1970 manifesto outlining his ethos of creating buildings that maintain respect for their surroundings, the people who use them and the natural world.
Perched high above the sea, Can Lis was completed in 1973 and served as the Utzon family summer house for a quarter of a century. It’s made from local materials such as pink marés sandstone and blends seamlessly into the landscape, with four clean-lined wings and various courtyards that follow the angles of the cliff to reveal tantalising views of the waves below. Today, it’s owned by the Utzon Foundation and functions as a residency for scholarship recipients, as well as opening to the public on selected dates.
Following an invitation from the foundation, Ferm Living’s Head of Design Phillipp Materna spent several days experiencing Can Lis, sparking the idea for a homeware collection that pays homage to its shifting light, natural influences and strong sense of place. The resulting 39 pieces draw on the shapes, colours and textures of the house, with neutral textiles, wood and stone alongside richer hues and unexpected poetic flourishes. They’re also a testament to island life, intended to encourage gathering, relaxed dining and time enjoying the outdoors.
Furniture designs in the collection include the ‘Vist’ dining chair, which takes its cue from Can Lis’ monolithic stone blocks. It’s crafted from FSCTM-certified Douglas fir and has a lightweight yet sturdy expression with a simple, unadorned honesty. Also made from Douglas fir and referencing the house’s architectural elements are the ‘Aukko’ dining table and ‘Sala’ stool / side table, both of which encompass a series of interlocking forms. The green-glazed ‘Deya’ side and coffee tables, meanwhile, were inspired by the rounded, bullnose-edge tiles that feature throughout the building.
Among the accessories are a mobile based on the moon motif that appears around the house; ceramic dinnerware that echoes the shape of its Catalan chimneys; and cushions, mugs and tea towels adorned with bird sketches created by Utzon himself during his stays. There are also three lighting designs: the portable ‘Luver’ lamp, whose wooden tiers channel the look of Can Lis’ louvred shutters, and the ‘Oeste’ pendant and table lamp, each consisting of three travertine panels around a central light source. The latter evoke the interplay of light and shadow on the stone surfaces of the house, with sunshine filtering in through different apertures and at different angles as the day progresses.
My favourite pieces, though, are the ‘Muro’ vases, which take their name from the Spanish word for wall. Shaped using moulds made from actual bricks, they replicate the rough-hewn stonework of Can Lis, contrasting chunky offset forms with translucent recycled glass. They’re available in several sizes, with a choice between amber and green colourways, and make beautiful objects even when empty.
Explore the full Ferm Living ‘Utzon – Can Lis’ collection here. Accessories start at £19 / €19 and furniture at £299 / €309.
All photography courtesy of Ferm Living
Leave a Reply