Our visit to the 70th anniversary of Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair was inspiring and provided an “opportunity to think about the past” said Cecilia Nyberg, Project Area Manager of the exhibition. The fair was a wonderful celebration of all the designs since 1950. The largest furniture & lighting exhibition in Scandinavia brought more than 40,000 visitors and 700 exhibitors in 2020. During 5 days in February 2020, the fair’s focus was on innovative and sustainable design concepts while showcasing the major trend of 2020s: the workplace of tomorrow.
Indeed, Hall A&C were dedicated to Design & Contract Markets. Privacy and wellbeing were key themes in these halls, judging by the number of acoustic booths. The market keeps growing and booths keep being more innovative. Framery’s stand did not disappoint; it was modelled on a giant 2Q and had all their ranges of products inside. They tested their acoustic performance to its max by including Karaoke in a 2Q! Singers could choose a song and perform inside the booth (making sure the door was closed of course). And it worked. We all experienced a little peace and quiet inside the booths, both on their stand and around the fair.
In addition to the Framery pods, biophilic design was included in most of the spaces dedicated to work. Workspace Sweden 2020 organised a conference for two days in parallel to the fair to highlight the new challenges of the next decade. Clearly the workplace is facing a lot of challenges for the years to come including recruitment challenges of increasingly demanding staff, digitalisation and lifestyle balance. Workspace design will need to continually adapt and evolve to meet these challenges.
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Here are just a few more highlights not to be missed…
Sustainable designs in the spotlight
Framery: “Happiness must also be sustainable”. Possessing several sustainability certifications, Framery has been committed to the UN Global Compact since 2018. Perfectly aware of the environmental threats we are facing, their products use materials which are up to 70% recycled.
Mizetto: The Swedish brand, involved in durability design, made quite an impression at this year’s fair. They showcased their minimalists Bin There product range. With its elegant, organic shape, matt finish and leather details, recycling may never have been more appealing. Without lids, the products become stylish flower pots. Winner of the German Design Award 2019, Arkityp, Arkiv and Arkad are the trendy solution for a modern recycling vessel which doesn’t need to be hidden away.
Kartell: Typically known for mass plastic production, Kartell’s environmental campaign was entitled “Kartell loves the planet”.
1. A.I. is the first chair made of 100% recycled material.
2. Smart Wood Collection designed by Phillippe Starck: sourced from certified forest (FSC*), the wood is transformed into industrial products.
*: Forest Stewardship Council-Certified
Ragnars: Pioneers in height-adjustable desks and meeting tables.
As always, Ragnars’ height- adjustable desks and meeting tables were in the spotlight. In a palette of light blue, pink and light wood, their products are always a clever mix of attractive, minimalist design and function. One new feature was the addition of a hook on the desk to hang a handbag.
Kvadrat Kabarett by Doshi Levien
Invited as Guests of Honour to Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2020, Doshi Levien designed Maya curtains and Jaali upholstery textile, launched by Kvadrat. The animated film, Kvadrat Kabarett has been created to illustrate the complexity between the two novelties and how these opposed yet complementary textiles come together
