Last week Cult headed to London for London Design Festival 2022, and it was was our first time covering this international design event! Marking the festival’s 20th anniversary, the 2022 edition ran from 17-25 September and featured a programme of more than 300 events across 12 design districts, including exhibitions, talks, workshops and open studios.
View our live coverage here and read on for highlights from &Tradition, Carl Hansen & Son, Fredericia, Fritz Hansen, HAY and Mater.
Fredericia.
Danish design brand Fredericia welcomed visitors to their London showroom, where they revealed the new Plan Collection designed by London-based studio Barber Osgerby. A new, full-scale series of chairs and tables suitable for modern working, dining, and living in a flexible and welcoming design combining Fredericia’s eminent sense of craftsmanship and Barber Osgerby’s flair for industrial design.
Other new releases include the JH39 Anniversary Edition in Sedge Grass by Børge Mogensen, Savannah Chair Petit by Monia Förster, Piloti Alu Table and Calmo Corner Sofa by Hugo Passos, and Wegner Ox Table by Hans J. Wegner.
Fritz Hansen.
Continuing to celebrate their 150th anniversary, Fritz Hansen transformed their London showroom into an exhibition space and installation themed around past and present hospitality, including a recreation of Suite 606, a closed room in the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen preserved with original furnishings and layout since the 1960s. Many pieces from the Fritz Hansen collection were originally conceived by Arne Jacobsen with hospitality in mind for this hotel, including the Egg™, Swan™ and Drop™ chairs.
Noteworthy new releases include the Anniversary Collection, plus PK0 A chair and PK60 coffee table by Poul Kjærholm.
The Anniversary Collection
A celebration of some of Fritz Hansen's most iconic designs of the past 150 years. Pieces by Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjærholm are reinterpreted through the use of new fabrics, colours, and materials, honouring their timeless design. Curated to stand together as well as alone, the designs bring beauty and function to living and dining spaces alike.
PK60 Table & PK0 A Chair
by Poul Kjaerholm.
With just 600 pieces in circulation until now, the PK0 A™ chair is the result of Kjærholm’s continual and careful consideration for challenging the boundaries of manufacturing techniques. In addition, Kjærholm’s PK60™ is released for the first time since it was designed in 1952. Revolutionising industrial techniques and contrasting the modular designs of the era, the PK60 takes its design cues from modern art – most notably the works of Japanese sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
&Tradition.
&Tradition launched their September 2022 collection with an exhibition in their beautiful London showroom overlooking St James's Park. The key novelty is X, a lounge chair by Hvidt & Mølgaard, a Copenhagen-based architecture and design firm established in 1944, which is now in production for the first time since 1958. This new release was introduced with an engaging design talk between Wallpaper* Design Editor Rosa Bertoli, &Tradition Head of Design Els Van Hoorebeeck and Malene Hvidt and Kasper Molgaard.
X Lounge Chair
by Hvidt & Mølgaard
After experimenting for years with the concept of a laminated wooden frame inspired by old wooden tennis rackets, Danish design duo Hvidt & Mølgaard released X in 1959, a lounge chair with a distinctive sloping silhouette and understated aesthetic.
Inland Sofa
by Anderssen & Voll
Torbjørn Anderssen and Espen Voll wanted to design a sofa that would provide the utmost comfort within a clearly defined architectural framework. With this vision in mind, they designed Inland, a low-form, deep sofa with high arms and a warm black steel-footed base that gives it the sense of floating.
Alima Trolley
by Note Design Studio
Inspired by the 'creative chaos' of working from home, Note Design Studio decided to create a storage unit that would house their collection of books, magazines, drawings and objects. The result was a sleek trolley with a distinctive V-shaped design built into its surface that allows stacked books to be easily stored and displayed.
Colette Lamp
by &Tradition
Named after the famed and pioneering French author known simply as 'Colette', &Tradition's new table lamp has an avant-garde aesthetic. Showcasing a tactile shade and base fully encased in a crisp, off-white cotton-linen blend, this dimmable lamp is elegant, fresh and playful.
Rotate
by Space Copenhagen
Rotate's unassuming appearance belies its highly functional design. Designed to suit a wide variety of purposes - from an office trolley, to a bedside table or bathroom storage unit - this asymmetrical piece can be inserted into any space. To ensure maximum adaptability, it sits on discreet wheels to facilitate quick and simple maneuverability from one location to the next.
Tung Table
by John Astbury
Contemporary British designer John Astbury wanted to create a side tableendowed with a sense of monolithic strength. The result was Tung, a compact piece supported by three curved legs that allude to the architectural presence of ancient pillars.
Herman Table Lamp
by Signe Hytte
Named after Herman Bang, the Herman lamp is a tribute to the notable Danish author's enduring artistic legacy and the way in which he led his life. Regarded as a trailblazer who shone a light on dimly lit issues society chose to ignore, Bang became a key figure in the Modern Breakthrough. Much like his stories, the Herman lamp offers a small beacon of light that has a literary quality to it.
HAY.
The HAY London showroom was refreshed to include the latest launches and previews of upcoming collections, including collaborations with Laila Gohar, Muller Van Severen and Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, among others. HAY also celebrated its 20th anniversary with a party and Q&A with New Order designer Stefan Diez.
Sobremesa Collection
by Laila Gohar x HAY
New York-based conceptual artist and chef Laila Gohar uses food as a means of telling stories. Together with HAY, she has designed a collection of tableware and kitchen accessories that celebrates the joy of hosting – from sourcing ingredients, to cooking, setting the table, and finally sitting down and enjoying the people around the table. The collection is called 'Sobremesa', which is the Spanish tradition of 'relaxing and enjoying idle moments and each other's company at the end of the meal'. Available from early 2023 in Australia.
HAY Furniture News
Launching Summer 2023 in Australia (L-R): Passerelle Table and Pier Shelving by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Pastis Collection by Julien Renault, Colour Cabinet by Muller Van Severen, and Result Armchair by Ahrend.
HAY Lighting News
Statement table lamps for all environments, including (L-R): Parade Lamp, Common Lamp, Apollo Table by Studio 0405, Anagram by Sam Weller, Paper Cube by Bertjan Pot, and LBM Table Light.
Carl Hansen & Son.
In 2022, Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects celebrates its 100 years anniversary. Danish master architect Vilhelm Lauritzen has created several of the most iconic buildings in Copenhagen, amongst others the iconic concert halls Radiohuset and Vega. To honour Lauritzen, Carl Hansen & Søn brings back to life some of his most exceptional works especially designed to adorn these cultural institutions, launched with 'The Sound of Design' exhibition at their London showroom. Visitors enjoyed design talks by CEO Knud Erik Hansen and Anne Møller Sørensen of Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, along with live weaving, watercolour painting and novelties by Børge Mogensen and Frits Henningsen.
The Foyer Series
by Vilhelm Lauritzen
Vilhelm Lauritzen designed Copenhagen’s Radiohuset for national Danish broadcaster in 1945 using exclusive materials, including Greenlandic marble and teak hardwood - today it's one of the finest examples of Danish Functionalism. The Foyer series, was designed for Radiohuset’s magnificent foyer and consists of a bench, a sofa and a lounge chair. It is now made available to a wider audience for the first time.
VLA26 Vega Chair
by Vilhelm Lauritzen
This chair was designed for the Copenhagen music venue Vega. It had previously only been found in Vega’s historic concert halls, and is now being put into production at Carl Hansen & Son in partnership with Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects. Lauritzen’s uncompromising attention to detail is evident in the stackable design which comes in an elegant mix of steel, wood and textile or leather.
FH38 Windsor Chair
by Frits Henningsen
Designed in 1938, this classic chair was continuously in production at Carl Hansen & Søn until 2003 and is now relaunched with a comfortable seat cushion. Majestic, classic and light in expression.
CH24 Teak
by Hans Wegner
The CH24 Wishbone Chair has been in continuous production since 1950 and is today an icon of modern Danish design with its light, sculptural shape, and universal appeal. Historically, teak was used to make some of the first Wegner chairs in the 1950s-1960s and was loved for its intense colour, but as demands grew higher, the use of the tropical teak stalled, and more Nordic wood types, like oak and beech, grew in popularity. Teak forestry has changed dramatically in the past 70 years, and today, the sourced teak is FSC-certified and originates from responsibly managed forests.
Mater.
Mater opened the doors to their new London showroom in the heart of Clerkenwell with a focus on their new sustainable Mater Circular Materials and collections.
Bowl Table
Waste Edition
by Ayush Kasliwal
Bowl waste edition is made of Mater Circular Materials. An innovative technology allows Mater to upcycle fibre-based waste materials with upcycled plastic waste. Bowl waste edition is designed for disassembly, meaning that the design allows each component in its purest form to upcycle into new production circles. The table is available in three versions.
Eternity Chair
by Space Copenhagen
Eternity shell is also made of Mater Circular Materials. The Chair itself is a very comfortable, functional stackable chair with industrial and sculptural features. Eternity is designed for disassembly, meaning that the design allows each component in its purest form to upcycle into new production circles
Conscious Chair 3162
by Børge Mogensen & Esben Klint
Conscious Chair 3162 designed in 1958 by the renowned Danish furniture designer and architect Børge Mogensen and Esben Klint. The chair is made of FSC® wood and Mater Circular Materials, where an innovative technology allows us to upcycle fiber-based waste materials with recycled plastic waste from GROHE. It is the first time that a Børge Mogensen design has been relaunched in a different material than the original. The chair is available in three versions.
Trends & Inspiration.
In addition to visiting our brand partners, we also made time to explore the countless creative installations, gallery exhibitions and showrooms throughout the week. Here is a round up of our highlights.
Swivel by Sabine Marcelis brought colour and interactivity to St Giles Square, a vibrant public space beside Tottenham Court Road.
L-R: The House by MAH, Beton Brut at Paul Smith, 'Of Nature' by Wilkinson & Rivera at the SCP showroom, Kvadrat installation launching new knitted upholstery textile Arda by Front.
Viaduct presented '10 Years of Muller Van Severen' with an exhibition of their furniture and lighting, including the HAY Arcs Vase and Colour Cabinet.
L-R: Max Clendinning Interior Eulogies at Sadie Coles HQ, Alex Eagle showroom, Vitsoe showroom.
Haptic Nature by Voukenas Petrides and Steven Petrides at Gallery Fumi. The exhibition includes light sculptures shaped like tree trunks and anthropomorphic totems, a bench, chandelier, table, mirror, chairs and small sculptures in polished bronze, plaster and textured cast aluminium.
L-R: Cafe Cecilia, Material Matters - a new design fair based on the critically acclaimed podcast of the same name.
Jan Hendzel Studio reimagines two suites in the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green.The London-based furniture manufacturer showcased an array of functional pieces of furniture throughout the suites, which are designed to look like art galleries.
New HAY Balcony range on show at the Twentytwentyone showroom in Islington.
For London Design Festival 2022, The Conran Shop partnered with It’s Nice That to present Meet Me in the Metaverse. An immersive installation taking over the brand's Chelsea location which saw the digital and physical collide in a playful exploration of design’s role in this intriguing new world.
The Victoria & Albert Museum held a host of exhibitions during LDF22 including a nine-day glass blowing display by Omer Arbel Studio, 'From the Forest' showcasing design projects that engage with questions around environmental stewardship and the sustainable use of wood, and 'Plasticity' - a monumental 3.6-metre-high sculpture created by Italian architect Niccolo Casas, exploring the possibility of turning a harmful waste material into something new.
'Paper' is the inaugural furniture collection of London-based designer David Horan, exclusive to Béton Brut gallery. Informed by decoupage and the Japanese Mingei movement, Horan layers handmade paper over a series of original architectonic forms – seating, a screen, coffee table – in a new applied ‘vegan vellum’.
INTO SIGHT is a life-sized media platform installation, where Sony Design plays on sensorial effects that transform simple boundary surfaces into an infinite vista through shifting light, colour and sound.
The New Craftsmen presented Claylarks - a new collection of unique pieces by a group of makers from a variety of practices.
Celebrating London Design Festival, Heal’s launched an exhibition that pays homage to the design icons over the past century, such as the CH24 Wishbone chair by Carl Hansen; Type 75 lamps (including Giant) by Anglepoise; and Egg chair by Fritz Hansen.