The Stockholm Furniture Fair has officially returned to floors for 2024. In fact, it is in a bustling swing as we speak. Making a name for themselves outside the confines of Scandinavian Design, the city of Stockholm welcomes designers and merchants every year in its coldest month.
Much like winter’s influence on Nordic design sensibilities, we like to think the freezing temperature also brings out the best in exhibitors’ display – compelling visitors to pull their hands out of their warm gloves to get a feel of the best of the products!
Moreover, the Stockholm Furniture Fair also provides a platform for upcoming young designers via Greenhouse. One of the displays headlining Greenhouse this time around is the Very Simple Bar – a collaboration between producer Very Simple Kitchen and design studio Stamuli. But what is most exciting is a first-time Award series, ‘Best in Show’ to be conferred upon on media platform Sight Unseen.
“What makes this experience even more significant is the chance to witness how my fellow designers challenge conventional notions of design, both conceptually and physically. Greenhouse, in particular, presents a unique opportunity to be an active participant in the important conversation on sustainability.”
–Laura Casañas Maya, 2024 Greenhouse Exhibitor
The Brand Showcase
The Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024 is a part of a larger Stockholm Design Week. During this time, brands not participating at the fair, also open up their showroom to welcome international visitors.
Take ateljé Lyktan, for instance, who has forged a collaboration with Form Us with Love for this period. An exhibition called ‘Testing Grounds: Parts of Tomorrow’ is presenting collections from the lighting manufacturers.
The theme of said exhibition explores the beguiling dissection between products and the architectural needs of the future. A mini-fair in itself, the program involves product launches, talks and aims to spark dialogue among onlookers. From atelje Lytkan, in particular, a more sustainable version of Hood (a ceiling pendant light) shall take centre stage. While experiments with hemp are still underway, Hood’s wool edition has become a standard offering since the onset of this event.
Hood from atelje Lytkan
But, atelje Lytkan isn’t the only one helming (read: hemping) the way to sustainability during Stockholm Design Week. Normann Copenhagen has unveiled Mat – a chair collection that is made of a concoction of materials including hemp and seaweed. But that is not the only fresh thing from the brand, this exciting (and impressive) launch is taking place at the new Normann Copenhagen showroom in Stockholm.
On the other hand, carpet producer, Ege Carpets has organised an exhibition titled, TRUE TRASH. In its entirety, TRUE is a series carried out in the shared showrooms of Ege Carpets and Gabriel that underscores their mutual passion for good, honest materials. The annual display harnesses the storytelling ability of textiles, and juxtaposes it with art. TRUE TRASH follows this well-laid plan of action as well. It urges onlookers to look at trash as treasure, and encourages them to make the ‘best out of waste.’ The coalition of art and waste is novel, but nonetheless – overflowing trash needs overexposure.
Top: Mat Collection from Normann Copenhagen
Bottom: Glimpses of the TRUE TRASH Exhibit by Ege Carpets & Gabriel
Humanscale is one of the brands exhibiting at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024. Their latest Freedom Ocean Chairs can be found at (Stand A07:29). In addition, they are also flaunting their blossoming partnership with Kvadrat. The aforementioned Freedom Chair can be spotted decked in Sport, the world’s first recycled polyester textile made of 100% ocean-bound plastic waste designed by Patricia Urquiola.
Mirroring their collaborators, Kvadrat is also leveraging the spirit of this buzzing time. A curated installation at the Kvadrat showroom will unveil Reflect, a new series of three high-performance metallised curtain textiles. The collection includes designs by Louise Sigvardt (Transparent Reflect and White Reflect) alongside Casa Reflect by Cristian Zuzunaga. From glare to privacy, and thermal comfort, these fabrics are set to be termed the ‘control-freaks’ of curtains. An upholstery textile woven from 100% recycled polyester (Autumn by Teruhiro Yanagihara) will also be launched at the venue.
Top: Humanscale‘s Freedom Ocean Chair and others upholstered in Kvadrat Fabrics
Bottom: Reflect from Kvadrat; (centre) Autumn from Kvadrat
Networking Galore
Mosa along with Kakelspecialisten Projekt is hosting an exclusive event during Stockholm Design Week on February 8th. Architects and designers are invited to witness the elegance of Mosa’s Classics Tide collection while discussing the fair and all things design. In Mosa’s words, ‘The event promises a delightful atmosphere with bites and drinks.’ Register Here
Lighting brand, Artemide is also hosting an Open House, where designers and architects shall find the brand’s most iconic products and all the latest news and updates about the new ones.
The Guest of Honour
Italian design studio Formafantasma, founded by Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin in 2009, is celebrated for its socially and environmentally transformative approach. The studio, known for exhibitions like Cambio at London’s Serpentine Gallery, investigates ecological, social, and political influences on contemporary design, emphasising materials’ extraction and processing.
“We are really looking forward to coming to Stockholm Furniture Fair, especially to see designers challenging the status quo and looking to contribute to a more thoughtful, environmentally sound landscape of design. That is our focus and what we are most interested in.”
–Andrea Trimarchi, Formafantasma
As the Guest of Honour at the Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024, Formafantasma will unveil its first exhibition in Sweden, emphasising a holistic and research-based perspective. The studio’s work extends to collaborations with notable brands such as Flos, Cassina, CC-Tapis, Hem, and ongoing projects with Artek, exploring the impact of changing conditions in Finnish forests on future furniture production. Formafantasma’s mission is to demonstrate that design is a powerful force capable of transforming entire systems, encouraging a more thoughtful and environmentally conscious design landscape.
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Date added:
6 February, 2024
