What a busy month of travel I’ve had. I’d barely landed back from my trip to Finnish Lapland before I was off again, this time to Stockholm for its annual Design Week. I visit every year if I can and it’s always inspiring, with more than 400 exhibitions and events across the city, as well as the huge Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair taking place on its outskirts. I’ll share a round-up of all the design news and my discoveries from the week soon, but before that I want to dedicate individual blog posts to a couple of my favourite installations.
First up is ‘The Sculptor’s Residence’, a joint exhibition from Norm Architects, Menu and Swedish furniture and bed brand Dux. Occupying the third-floor apartment of a stunning period building, it marked the latest stage in an ongoing collaboration that has already seen the three companies work together on The Audo in Copenhagen and the ‘Into The Light’ pop-up during Stockholm Design Week 2019.
The exhibition was set out as the home and atelier of an artist, complete with a living room, a dining space, an office and a bedroom. It was beautifully styled by Linnea Ek Blæhr, who aimed to create a narrative around the designs on display and bring them to life. Along with furniture, lighting and accessories from Menu and Dux, there were tactile sculptures by British maker Nicholas Shurey, functional ceramics by Sofia Tufvasson and Atelier Armand, limestone and marble podiums by Östersjösten Aktiebolag, and decorative panels by sustainable paint and plaster brand St. Leo. There were also lots of enchanting little details, which revealed glimpses into the imaginary resident’s everyday life: rolls of paper propped against the walls, paintbrushes and tools dotted here and there, candles burning in the corner… I could easily imagine someone pottering about the various spaces, searching for inspiration, sketching or just sitting down to read.
It was a great opportunity to view some of Menu’s spring-summer 2020 launches in person, and I always enjoy seeing how new designs can be incorporated into real-life settings. Among them were several pieces designed by Norm Architects, including the ‘Eave’ dining sofa, the lantern-like ‘Hashira’ lamp series and the versatile marble-topped ‘Harbour’ tables.
Norm was also behind Dux’s new ‘Domus’ collection, which was showcased in the living room and office. It includes two lounge chairs, a footstool and a side table, and it was inspired by furniture created by Swedish designer Alf Svensson for Dux’s stand at H55, an international fair held in the city of Helsingborg back in 1955. Using source materials from Dux’s extensive archives, the team updated the originals to suit 21st-century requirements and manufacturing processes, while preserving their character and aesthetic. The resulting pieces come in wood or metal, with a choice of fabric or leather upholstery, and they have a wonderfully timeless quality; they also fit seamlessly into modern-day environments.
The whole exhibition was elegant and serene, and I came away brimming with ideas. I loved all the natural textures and soft colours, and the way the clean-lined pieces contrasted with the apartment’s ornate ceilings and traditional tiled stoves. Most of all, though, I loved how it demonstrated that we can pick and choose pieces from different places and different eras to create an individual home that reflects our lives and personalities. After all, that’s what successful interior design is all about.
All photography by Abi Dare
Leave a Reply