Highlights from 3 Days of Design 2022 | Part 2

I’ve already shared part one of my round-up from Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design festival, together with a peek inside the stunning Vipp Loft and Vipp Garage. Today it’s time for more of my highlights, so read on for some very inspiring Scandinavian interiors plus a few interesting product launches that caught my eye…

Frama

First up is Frama, which transformed its iconic studio-store into a beach, complete with real sand and a hammock. The aim was to showcase its new range of towels, which come in summery shades of yellow, sage and orange, as well as a few other additions. My favourites were a green version of its ‘AML’ stool, designed to resemble the colour of pine needles and decorated in a linseed paint created from flax oil and natural pigments, and beautiful glassware with soft, organic shapes. There were also some wonderful skin and body care products to sample thanks to the launch of its new ‘Herbarium’ range, made in collaboration with Seoul-based creative studio Be My Guest and infused with fabulous botanical notes.

Fredericia

I always love visiting Fredericia‘s showroom – a soaring, loft-like space in Copenhagen’s former central post office and Royal Mail museum, with beautiful natural light and a roof terrace gazing out over the city. During 3 Days of Design it played host to an exhibition celebrating 75 years of Børge Mogensen’s ‘J39’ chair, which has been in continuous production since 1947 and is often dubbed the ‘People’s Chair’ thanks to its versatile, durable design. To mark the anniversary, Fredericia has released a limited-edition version with a sustainable hand-woven sedge-grass seat, just like the original that Mogensen had in his own living room.

Other new launches to admire included Hans J. Wegner’s circular ‘Ox’ table, a timeless classic from 1960 that’s now going back into production in several sizes, and aluminium-legged versions of Hugo Passos’ sleek stone-topped ‘Piloti’ tables.

HAY

The HAY store is a Copenhagen must-visit and for 3 Days of Design the company also opened up its stunning showroom and offices, located on the floors above.

There were lots of upcoming launches on display and I’ll share more details as and when they’re available to buy, but for me there were three standouts. The first was Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s simple yet striking ‘Pier’ shelving system, which can be configured in numerous different ways and adapted to suit changing needs and spaces; there are even desk, cupboard and hanging-rail modules to incorporate. The second was British designer Sam Weller’s aluminium ‘Anagram’ lamp – a contemporary, pared-back take on traditional library and bank lights that’s somehow familiar and new at the same time. And the third – my personal favourite – was the ‘LBM’ lamp, created by Moisés Hernández and inspired by the clean-lined, colourful architecture of his Mexican compatriot Luis Barragán Morfín. I love the way Hernández has reinterpreted Barragán’s use of geometry and light, casting an ambient glow downwards over a folded steel sheet in red, yellow, pink or beige.

Please Wait To Be Seated

Young Danish brand Please Wait To Be Seated was founded in 2014 with the goal of introducing pieces that go on to become classics. Its 3 Days of Design exhibition was a collaboration with British designer Faye Toogood and featured sumptuous curtained walls, earthy shades of ochre and terracotta, and hand-painted canvas panels strung from metal frames. The overall effect was sophisticated, cosy and cocooning, but there was a wonderful dash of whimsey about it too.

Toogood has been responsible for some of Please Wait To Be Seated’s most distinctive designs: the minimalist three-legged ‘Spade’ chair (which, despite appearances, is very comfortable to sit on!), and the gently playful ‘Tubby Tube’ stools and table. She’s now created the ‘Tubby Tube’ linear pendant light, which was on display at the heart of the exhibition. It’s a beautifully sleek, understated addition to the collection and works brilliantly over tables, island units and bar counters.

Le Klint

Iconic Danish lighting company Le Klint used 3 Days of Design to showcase ‘Plivello’ – a new lamp created by Christian Troels. Inspired by traditional multi-tiered chandeliers, it puts a different spin on the brand’s famous hand-folded shades and has an intriguing air of Art Deco about it.

Sadly an overrunning meeting meant I missed a press preview with a demonstration of how the lamp is crafted, but I popped into the showroom afterwards and the skill involved in the pleating process was clear to see. And the result is stunning: a light that looks simple at first glance but that reveals intricate details as you look more closely. It comes in several different sizes, and there was also a prototype green version, which might go into full production, on display. As for the name ‘Plivello’, it’s a fusion of the Italian word levello (‘level’) and the French word pli (‘fold’) and seems very apt for a design that takes the essence of Le Klint in a sleek, more linear direction.

Ferm Living

Finally, 3 Days of Design gave me my first chance to have a look around Ferm Living‘s showroom and concept store, which opened its doors in 2020. Located at Kuglegårdsvej 1-5 (just across the bridge from Nyhavn), it occupies a beautiful building that dates back to 1777 and used to house Denmark’s Defence Command. It’s arranged as a series of room sets that give you a real feel for how the brand’s furniture and accessories can be used, and the gnarled beams, exposed brick walls and tall arched windows provide a gorgeous backdrop to all the earthy tones and sculptural shapes. I particularly loved the way it’s been dressed with leafy plants, books and vintage curios that Ferm founder Trine has picked up on her travels, all of which are available to buy. They give the place a wonderful sense of homeliness and show how we can personalise spaces to reflect our own lives and stories.

New pieces on display included a dining version of the curvaceous ‘Rico’ chair (quite possibly one of the comfiest chairs I’ve ever sat on!) and the ‘Ark’ chair, which is striking in its simplicity and comes in adult and kids’ sizes. The latter forms part of Ferm Living’s effort to take concrete steps towards reducing its environmental footprint and is made using the standard dimensions of solid wooden planks, therefore significantly cutting down on waste. It’s also flat-packed to reduce transport emissions, and can be disassembled and recycled easily at the end of its lifespan.

Fredericia images two, three and four courtesy of Fredericia; all other photography by Abi Dare