About 100% Norway Curator’s Introduction The exhibition design Exhibitors Credits
100% Norway
04 06 08 12—57 58
3
Contents
Welcome to 100% Norway at the Dray Walk Gallery. Enjoy the show and Norwegian design!
Norwegian Design Council Royal Norwegian Embassy Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs
norskdesign.no norway.org.uk regjeringen.no/mfa
5
What is Norwegian design? The more we consider the national character of design, the more unclear such a concept often becomes. Like the rest of our society, design is being influenced by global trends more than ever before. Geographical and cultural barriers are shifting radically.
A country’s design is also tied to its historical, economic, political and natural conditions. To a greater extent than is the case for other works of art, design reflects the society from which it has evolved. Design is never based on a single truth; it is never a fixed answer to a given set of conditions. Design involves making choices, and in those choices our natural, social and economic resources are transformed into an expression of our culture, which offers new possibilities. Norwegian design—like in most of the other Scandinavian countries—has developed an international reputation for making products and furniture that provide elegance and timeless simplicity. 100% Norway is a showcase of creativity, boldness and attitude inspired by the Scandinavian design heritage. The products for this year’s exhibition have been selected by our eminent curators. Our London-based curator Henrietta Thompson became a part of the 100% Norway team in 2006 and she was later joined by co-curator Benedicte Sunde. Their invaluable eye for design is reflected in this year’s exhibition showcasing exciting emerging talent and manufacturers. The works of the designers are versatile, but also build upon the traditional Norwegian ideals of modesty and purity. Combined with a strong tradition of natural preservation, this makes the Norwegian designs characterised by a combination of the quality of the materials and the simplicity of the object. This year’s exhibition presents both classic designs, such as the garden chair by Peter Opsvik and the Popcorn chair by Sven Ivar Dysthe, as well as exciting new designs by up-and-coming talents, such as Lars Beller Fjetland and Vibeke Skar. We aim to generate business for our design industry and increase the profile of Norwegian design. During the festival the exhibitors are given a unique opportunity to network with the British, international and Norwegian design industry, and to showcase the diversity of Norwegian design.
100% Norway
London Design Festival
4
What is Norwegian design?
By Henrietta Thompson
7
This year is a special one for 100% Norway. 2012 marks our 9th outing as part of the London Design Festival, and while we’re not quite into double figures yet we still have much to celebrate.
A change of venue, a fresh new team and a renewed focus on up-and-coming new Norwegian talent are top of that list. With Amy Hunting and Oscar Narud, two of the most innovative and capable young Norwegian designers in London, on board to design the space, 100% Norway is returning to East London for the first time since 2006. Bringing 22 exhibitors together at the Dray Walk Gallery, we’re hopeful that this year’s show will provide the best possible of introductions to the next generation of Norwegian design. Norway, as you would expect, demonstrates many of the same influences as the other Scandinavian countries when it comes to design. But after spending years in the shadows of its rightfully much lauded neighbours creatively, it has now fully emerged as a significant global player in its own right. The selection on show at 100% Norway this year demonstrates both a confident identity and a strong sense of community in this country. Now able to take inspiration from their homeland, yet not be dictated by it, many designers and manufacturers also find new worth and depth in Norway’s past, its history of craftsmanship and its own design heritage. Particularly worth looking out for this year is lighting, which is the focal point of many new designers at the show. Considering that in some parts of Norway the sun doesn’t always quite make it over the horizon in the winter months, yet it is also home to beautiful natural light phenomena such as the midnight sun and the northern lights, it follows that lighting is a central concern and inspiration. The sensitive, evocative results speak for themselves, from Transplant’s poetic public lighting series, Shroom, to Kristine Five Melvær’s thoughtful and emotive collection of side lamps and the perfectly balanced L/Lamp from Sylvia Holthen and Birgitte Due Madsen. Social and environmental responsibility also take priority in 2012, as can perhaps best be seen in the beautiful recycled and reclaimed wooden pieces of new exhibitor Lars Beller Fjetland, and in Morten Skjærpe Knarrum’s table and chairs— made in a collaboration with inmates at a Norwegian prison. Other highlights include a collection of Norwegian classic chairs reworked and reissued by Rybo, and several new products launched from 100% Norway ‘veterans’ such as Wik & Walsøe, Frost Produkt, Caroline Olsson and Hallgeir Homstvedt. All of which show that while Norway may well be an exciting new design nation, the wealth of talent we’re currently seeing hasn’t sprung from nowhere. My aim, with my co-curator Benedicte Sunde, isn’t to use 100% Norway to climb a patriotic pedestal or reinforce tired national stereotypes. As national borders become ever more blurred, with designers completing their education and working all over the world and their influences and knowledge increasingly far reaching, the notion is redundant. Instead what we want to do is give a platform to a group of truly innovative, prodigious new Scandinavians who have much to offer the rest of the world through their work.
100% Norway
London Design Festival
6
Curator’s introduction
Amy Hunting & Oscar Narud
9
We were thrilled to set out to design the space for this years 100% Norway. The new venue came with fresh changes and new possibilities.
The objects on show have been carefully curated and it covers the whole range from tableware to sofas. We wanted the show to be perceived as a holistic collection. In order to fully show the diverse qualities in the products, we decided to present them in categories. This way you can see the range of joinery techniques in the chairs, understand the complexity in the lights and appreciate the clever and poetic ideas in the smaller objects. Our background is very much designing products and furniture, and this is something we were able to draw on when designing the space. You will find some Norwegian references in the exhibition design, ranging from the Norwegian postbox system found in remote and rural places to often overlooked graphic elements within traditional building techniques. The outside area was just waiting to be put to use, and this is where we decided to dive into the patterns found in slates, roofs, constructions and even barn doors. We observed them, picked them apart and set out to play around with these amazing patterns and textures we found. We didn’t want this show to scream anything; it was important that we created a stage and a suited gallery environment to let the products tell their own story.
100% Norway
London Design Festival
8
The exhibition design
10
11
London Design Festival
100% Norway
MNIL = Members of Norwegian Organisation of Interior Architects and Furniture Designers
13
Alf Sture Anders Gottlieb-Nygaard Anderssen & Voll MNIL Andreas Engesvik Caroline Olsson Frost Produkt Hallgeir Homstvedt Ingmar Relling Morten & Jonas MNIL Knudsen Berg Hindenes & Myhr MNIL Kristine Five Melvær Lars Beller Fjetland Magnus Pettersen Oscar Narud Peter Opsvik MNIL Rudi Wulff Sigurd Resell Strek Collective Sven Ivar Dysthe MNIL Sylvia Holthen & Birgitte Due Madsen Ralston & Bau Vibeke Skar Victoria Günzler & Sara Wright Polmar Wik & Walsøe
100% Norway
London Design Festival
12
Exhibitors
15
Pocket&Comms is a communication and design agency based in Oslo with a deep-seated philosophy. In the words of founder Anders Gottlieb-Nygaard: “We believe in creative problem-solving and making interesting things happen. We have simple beliefs and grand ambitions, and enjoy the occasional cheeky post-work beer.” The Nordic Alpine table was originally designed for their own studio, and is now made to order to bespoke sizes, sold by weight. Hardwearing, elegant, architectural and entirely sustainable, the frame is made from residual industrial steel and tabletop is moisture-resistant MDF. “We’ve used Nordic nature as our muse,” says Anders. “We wanted to create something that was robust as a mountain, adaptable as water, clean as the autumn air, and captivating as a campfire. The basic elements made naturally simple.” Anders’ own background is in advertising, and he established Pocket & Comms having spent six years in London at creative agency Naked Communications.
pocketpowerpool.com nordicalpine.no
100% Norway
14
Manufacturer: Pocket&Comms
London Design Festival
Anders Gottlieb-Nygaard
17
Oslo-based design studio Anderssen & Voll has an aim “to be receptive to cultural and market trends, and to apply this knowledge in forward-thinking ways to generate groundbreaking and desirable products.” A frequent exhibitor at 100% Norway, this year they will present a new sofa for LK Hjelle, Mono, which was recently awarded the prize for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council. Mono has a simple elegant form that uses minimal raw materials while providing an extremely comfortable seating situation. Consisting of two of the founding members from former design studio Norway Says, Anderssen & Voll has gone from strength to strength as a duo in recent years. They have launched new products with international heavyweights such as La Palma, Established & Son and Muuto as well as created new design ranges for traditional Norwegian brands Røros Tweed, Jøtul and Biri Tapet. Having rightfully been credited for kick-starting the new Norwegian design wave over a decade ago, they have continuously encouraged local manufacturers to work with local talent and helped establish a bustling design scene in both Oslo and Bergen. In fact, Torbjørn Anderssen is now also a professor at the Oslo Academy of Art & Design, educating a new and growing pool of Norwegian designers.
anderssen-voll.com hjelle.no
100% Norway
16
Manufacturer: LK Hjelle
London Design Festival
Anderssen & Voll
19
Andreas Engesvik has built up an impressive reputation over the years. As one of the three founder members of the design collective Norway Says, he helped to create a buzz and a renewed interest for design in Norway. The collective’s success culminated in the participation at the 53rd Venice biennale in 2009, after which the trio disbanded and Andreas established his own studio. Andreas works in various fields including furniture, tableware and industrial design, and has attracted international producers like Iittala, Muuto, Ligne Roset and Asplund. As well as his strong presence in public debates and involvement in the design community, he has found time to collaborate with new generation talents such as StokkeAustad and Daniel Rybakken, and is very active in the promotion of young Norwegian designers. For this year’s show Andreas presents a range of blankets called ‘bunadspledd’, designed for Mandal Veveri. A bunad is the Norwegian national costume for men and women, dating back to 19th century National Romanticism. There are about 400 different types of bunad, the design and patterns depicting regional differences, and Andreas wanted to create a new product that carries traces from the old bunad tradition. Analyzing different patterns, materials, embroidery, metals and colour combinations he concluded that bunads consist of a certain number of colours distributed in a certain manner. He decided to simplify the patterns whilst keeping the hints of their source of inspiration; the result is an elegant series of bunad throws that is reminiscent of minimalistic paintings.
andreasengesvik.no mandal-veveri.no
100% Norway
18
Manufacturer: Mandal Veveri
London Design Festival
Andreas Engesvik, Oslo
21
Exhibiting as part of 100% Norway for the first time last year, Caroline Olsson, who was still a student at the time, received the Blueprint Award for Best New Product for her foldable lamp Curious. Since then she was also selected as Young Designer of the year 2011 by Elle Decoration in Norway, and Bambi —her table with foldable legs—has also received much attention. Through 2012 she has been completing an internship at Anderssen & Voll in Oslo, former founders of Norway Says. Citing nature and traditional craftsmanship as her primary inspirations, at this year’s exhibition she is presenting a series of candleholders and a new light. Her candleholder range is called Hill, and is a celebration of the beauty and diversity found in landscapes. Pebble-like forms carved from pine, ash, beech, oak and birch, they are tactile and entirely minimal. Turn Light by contrast takes its cue from Scandinavian workbenches made of pine. The light level is adjusted by turning the giant wooden screw clamp at the top of a glass base.
carolineolsson.no
100% Norway
20
Prototype
London Design Festival
Caroline Olsson
23
Frost Produkt is a product design consultancy founded in 2001 by brothers Jann and Sondre Frost, later they where joined by designer Sindre Widerberg. Over the years, the firm has developed an impressive portfolio, often collaborating with other designers such as Norway Says and StokkeAustad, and racking up award-winning projects with clients such as Clear Channel for which they developed the smart bike system and the bicycle for city transport. The system is now assembled in Oslo, Trondheim, Gothenburg, Stockholm and Barcelona. Frost Produkt won the Red Dot Award for the Split Frame Goggles made for “Skigutane” in 2009 and a Wallpaper* award in 2010 with their Basic series. Frost Produkt’s style is distinctly minimal and their effortlessly pure and simple expressions have become a trademark of sorts. At 100% Norway they are showing two new products for the garden: the James trolley table and the Nott light. The James trolley table is ideal for the patio or garden but is equally at home indoors. As Jann puts it: “The James table is simple and intuitive, easing the transition between indoor and outdoor environments.” The Nott light, an oil lamp that might draw comparisons with a hot air balloon, is dedicated to the infamous balloonist Julian Nott.
frostprodukt.no
100% Norway
22
Prototype
London Design Festival
Frost Produkt
25
After completing his degree in Australia in 2006, Hallgeir Homstvedt returned to Oslo to join the design studio Norway Says, where he would stay for three years. He left to open his own design studio in 2009, focusing on furniture and product design. Today Hallgeir has several pieces in production with the UK-based Established & Sons, as well as a number of other manufacturers both in Norway and internationally. Exhibiting as part of 100% Norway for the third year, Hallgeir is showing two new tableware concepts that he is currently developing. Grow was inspired by the Japanese cuisine and presentation, where food is often served in small bowls on a small tray, says Hallgeir. �I wanted to further explore the theme of how a cup on a saucer, or flower pot on a tray, complement each other. By using magnets in the base of the pots, I was able to create an interesting effect not possible with a normal pot and tray.� This design invites the user to experiment with different compositions and combinations of the pots, and could potentially be used to contain fresh herbs as a centrepiece for the dining table. Tangent uses the same concept to arrange a series of small vases. Hallgeir often makes use of visual illusion in his designs, using mirrors, lighting and contrasting materials to create surprising effects.
hallgeirhomstvedt.com
100% Norway
24
Prototype
London Design Festival
Hallgeir Homstvedt
27
The Bergen-based design studio Knudsen & Hindenes was founded in 2009 by Petter Knudsen and Steinar Hindenes. In 2011 with new partner Anders Berg, they became Knudsen Berg Hindenes and developed the table FLAKE as well as the HUB and UP sofas,the results of a commission from the Norwegian television company TV2. Subsequently they invited former member of Norway Says, Frode Myhr, into the design process, and evolved another new sofa design: PLANK. The name PLANK points to the planks made by Scandinavian flooring company Dinesen. These provided the aesthetic inspiration for the sofa, which is made using ‘Douglas Fir’, a wood known for producing broad and impressive long planks. “We wanted to use the plank in all its impressive grandeur,” says Steinar. “We aspired to create a floating seat that gives a sense of weightlessness.” The sofa also features an integrated side table.
kb-h.no myhrindustrial.no
100% Norway
26
Prototype Sponsor: Dinesen AS, Denmark
London Design Festival
Knudsen Berg Hindenes MNIL & Myhr
29
Oslo-based Kristine Five Melvær is one of Scandinavia’s most promising young designers. Exhibiting in the UK for the first time at 100% Norway this year, she will be showing three new collections of domestic lamps with a difference. Kristine’s work explores the idea of object communication, bridging the disciplines of product design and graphic design with simple yet sensual products, that encourage an emotional bond with the user. The Light Jar creates an innovative container to illuminate beloved trinkets and objects. Available in three versions, all with different proportions and personalities, the lamps can literally be filled with personal meaning. The Ray Lamp questions the stereotypical lamp. Its skeletal frame reveals the light source completely through a textile skin that calls to mind old-fashioned lingerie, domestic scenes viewed through net curtains or the sun through a misty sky. The Sunday lamps are inspired, says Kristine, by “long, relaxing Sunday breakfasts, with candles glowing in the cool Norwegian air, setting the mood”. The light source is placed in the upper part of the body, giving added focus to the detail on top.
kristinefivemelvaer.com
100% Norway
28
Prototype
London Design Festival
Kristine Five Melvær
31
Lars Beller Fjetland established his company Beller Design in 2011 while he was still a student at Bergen National Academy of the Arts. He graduated this year, and already his products are garnering much attention. The Beller philosophy focuses on sustainable design, which is evident in all of his products, including Re-turned, a series of wooden birds produced by the newly established Italian producer Discipline. The Re-turned concept elevates leftover wood from merely being an ignored piece of waste material to becoming a desired piece of feel-good woodcraft. Lars is also presenting his table Nuki at 100% Norway. The table is a fusion of Nordic carpentry and Japanese joinery, and is constructed using a traditional interlocking system with a marble top.
beller.no
100% Norway
30
Manufacturer: Re-turned: Discipline Nuki Table: Normann Copenhagen
London Design Festival
Lars Beller Fjetland
33
London-based Magnus Pettersen returns to 100% Norway for a second year, after showing the prototype Tint lamp in 2011. One of the most popular items in the show, it was almost immediately picked up by a yet-to-be-disclosed international manufacturer and is all set to retail from autumn 2013. Pettersen, who trained at Kingston University and Central St Martins, only began designing his own products early last year, but has already had much commercial success. Besides the Tint lamp, Magnus’s Concrete desk set of stationary accessories was launched by US manufacturer Areaware during ICFF in May. At this year’s exhibition Magnus is launching a new lamp as well as a series of furniture items. The compellingly unusual form of Beacon is inspired by lighthouses, he says, and is to be available in a series of different colours. “I also wanted to find a way to reflect a warm light from an energy efficient bulb, which can seem very cold.” Locker, meanwhile, is an elegant range of storage furniture inspired by industrial lockers. In ash and aluminium, the range consists of a chest of drawers, sideboard, credenza and side table. “I focus a lot on keeping the manufacturing process as simple as possible,” explains Magnus. “I prefer working with traditional materials like metals, wood and glass where I can.”
magnuspettersen.com
100% Norway
32
Manufacturer: Magnus Pettersen
London Design Festival
Magnus Pettersen
35
Morten SkjÌrpe Knarrum and Jonas Norheim both graduated from the Bergen academy of Art and Design in 2011 before setting up studio together in the city in an old herring factory close to the sea. With a strong focus on socially conscious design, The pair has seen considerable success already. Between them, they have picked up six awards in Norway for their masters projects. This is the first time their work will be shown in the UK. Locked / Together is a set of chairs and a table designed specifically for production in Norwegian prisons. Made in solid oak, the designs make use of traditional carpentry skills, and engage the prisoners’ time in constructive, skilled labour. Divider is a new concept based on the Venetian blind. Intended as a window cover or simply as a spatial divider, the textile panels have sound absorbing qualities (making them useful in settings such as restaurants, where the acoustics might otherwise be challenging) and have a highly graphic quality.
morten-jonas.no
100% Norway
34
Prototype
London Design Week
Morten SkjĂŚrpe Knarrum & Jonas Norheim
37
Oslo-born Oscar Narud studied his trade in London, at Central St Martins and the Royal College of Art. Since graduating in 2006, he has worked for a number of high-profile design studios including El Ultimo Grito and Nigel Coates, as well as being a founding member of the nine-strong OKAY design collective in North London. Alongside a number of private commissions, Oscar’s clients include the British Council, the Aram Gallery in London and the Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw, while his latest work has been picked up by Phillips De Pury, Moss Gallery in New York and the UK Crafts Council. Simple materials, processes and structural elements form the focal points of Oscar’s designs, which also frequently reference traditional Scandinavian archetypes and visual aesthetics. The sturdy Ship Shape shelves for example, evolved from traditional Norwegian furniture that uses simple construction methods. Their assembly is a hands-on process, requiring only simple tools and few fixings. As Oscar explains, the results are highly practical: “In a domestic situation they could be taken apart and put together often, either to move or repair, and this is a luxury to find in modern furniture.” Oscar is also showing the Hunter sideboard at 100% Norway. The graphic sliding doors draw inspiration from traditional Norwegian architecture, where the overlapping patterns of the woodwork create colourful lattice effects.
oscarnarud.com
100% Norway
36
Manufacturer: Oscar Narud
London Design Festival
Oscar Magnus Narud
39
Birgitta Ralston and Alexandre Bau began to work together from Paris in 2001. They later moved to Norway and built Transplant, a contemporary building by architect Attila Eris, in a small village by the Dalsfjord on the west coast of Norway. Transplant has become a creative work space, attracting international designers and artists who attend the Ideal Lab’, a holistic and co-creative design research program, and explore innovative and sustainable materials in a dedicated library. As the founders explain; “in our design process we create with our client a common platform and understanding of the muted social context where people will be in contact with the design. We embed sensorial, sustainable, cultural and social factors. It creates higher value, attraction and efficiency, centred on human wellbeing.” Shroom, launched at 100% Norway, is an outdoor lighting and furniture system with an unique detection system that reacts to movement and ambient light. “The idea behind the Shrooms came from working with elderly people in a Norwegian village and their memories related to physical places. We wanted to create lighting adapted to the life and needs in Nordic cities, close to nature and with long dark nights during the winter. The amazing light of stars and aurora borealis (Nordic lights) are affected by public lighting, therefore it made sense to make light fixtures that are fully lit only when needed,” say the designers. The light dims to a 10 percent light strength, if nobody is in its proximity and when someone passes by, the Shroom smoothly brightens to full luminosity, lighting up the path. This is both energysaving and avoiding unnecessary light pollution. Made from linen fibres, a natural fibre biocomposite material, the light fixture series including a Giant street light, a Just bollard, a Big and Little seats, the result is a small forest of magic Shrooms.
ralstonbau.com
100% Norway
38
Manufacturer: Saintluc
London Design Festival
Ralston & Bau
41
Rudi Wulff has been working as a designer since he graduated from the Oslo School of Architecture and Design in 2010. Various freelance projects have seen him apply his creative skills to product design, graphics and packaging, but his main focus is as an in-house designer at Northern Lighting, where he works to bring innovative new products to the internationally successful range. Northern Lighting, a longtime exhibitor at 100% Norway, was established seven years ago and works with both up-and-coming talents and recognised designers in Norway to explore the possibilities of contemporary lighting. It is Wulff’s first time exhibiting in the UK with his own products, however, and with Northern Lighting he is launching a new LED task lamp, Dip, in silicon and aluminium. Besides this, he is also showing a new collection of tableware concepts called Magnetic. The central theme to all Rudi’s products in this exhibition is magnetism, he explains. “I think this natural resource has fascinating and important properties that is underrated and unexplored in the field of product design. I wanted to implement magnetic properties as a central element into the design of everyday products because for me, magnetism has always seemed magical, as it is to a lot of people.” The new product concepts in the Magnetic range include a napkin dispenser, a spice tower, and a bowl. All are simple and functional but also tactile and fun to use.
rudiwulff.com northernlighting.no
100% Norway
40
Manufacturer: Dip lamp: Northern Lighting Magnetic series: Prototypes
London Design Festival
Rudi Wulff
43
Keen to show Norway’s rich history of chair-making, designer Andreas Engesvik has teamed up with Rybo, the manufacturer of Ingmar Relling’s classic and awardwinning Siesta chair, to take a fresh look at a number of Norwegian classic designers. First up is the reissued Laminette, a laminated stackable chair which is one of the best-selling chairs in Norway. In 1964, designer Sven Ivar Dysthe, who studied at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, received the gold medal for the chair at the international biennale in Ljubljana, and later the Award for Design Excellence from the Norwegian Design Council. Andreas’ input to the Laminette sees the form slimmed down and simplified. Originally designed by Peter Opsvik in 1985 as a concept, the Garden Chair was a multicoloured climbing frame that made the simple act of sitting down not just more complicated, but infinitely more fun. Installed in airports and waiting areas across Norway, it was eventually put into production due to popular demand, before being decommissioned again in the 90s when the tree-climbing hippy vibe went out of fashion. It now makes a much-anticipated return. Sigurd Ressell’s hammock style Falcon Chair, designed in the 1960s, is another Norwegian icon that has regained popularity at auction in recent years, now reinterpreted with fresh materials and a refined form. Finally, Relling’s design for the Cox chair illustrates his humanist beliefs that products should be useful to people in their daily lives; not just judged on their shape. Simplicity and a stringent but logical expression infuse Relling’s chairs with character.
rybo.no
100% Norway
42
Manufacturer: Rybo AS Designs: Laminette by Sven Ivar Dysthe Cox by Ingmar Relling Garden Chair by Peter Opsvik Falcon Classic by Sigurd Resell
London Design Festival
Rybo
45
Strek Collective is a creative enterprise founded by four young Norwegian designers with a dedicated approach to “exploring the unknown and improving the known”. After meeting in Oslo while studying at the Akershus University College, the four began working together in 2008, frequently exhibiting as a group at design fairs including Milan, Stockholm, New York, Oslo and Paris. For Strek’s inaugural London outing, they are showing Wandering Lines, a modular system of trestle tables, benches and racks. Initially conceived as a way for them to exhibit their other works, it was the first product they designed collaboratively and is intended to be easy to produce, transport and assemble. The four members of Strek—Fredrik Wærnes, Jørgen Platou Willumsen, Nicolai Gulliksen and Stian Korntved Ruud—are each currently studying for Masters degrees at four different universities, and also design independently. For now their approach is hands-on, as they explore new solutions by trial and error. Besides the trestles, the collective is also showing Copper 58, an elegant series of five circular copper vessels.
strekcollective.com
100% Norway
44
Protoype
London Design Festival
Strek Collective
47
Sven Ivar Dysthe is one of the grand masters of the Norwegian design community, helping to shape the country’s design landscape since the 1960s after he graduated from the Royal College of Art in London. Over the years he has been the recipient of many prestigious awards and was appointed Knight of 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 2010. Famous for combining materials like iron, teak and skin in new and unpredictable ways, the designer explored new shapes inspired by contemporary cultural expressions such as rock n’ roll and space travel. “When aesthetic, function and form melt together and express a complete experience - that’s when you’ve succeeded. So simple, yet so challenging.” The now iconic Popcorn chair was developed for the opening of the Henie Onstad Art Centre in 1968. Henie Onstad needed a stackable chair that corresponded with the futuristic expression found in the architecture signed by the architects Jon Eikvar and Sven Erik Engebretsen. Dysthe developed a spherical chair made of fibreglass, with a tubular steel base and leather upholstery. The chair was re-launched by the manufacturer Fora Form in 2011 with, a makeover that included a new plastic shell, hollow steel tubes which make the chair lighter, and changeable cushions.
dysthedesign.no foraform.no
100% Norway
46
Manufacturer: Fora Form
London Design Festival
Sven Ivar Dysthe
49
Sylvia Holthen is an industrial designer whose innovative weapon lock for the AK-47 rifle helped prevent accidental shots in conflict zones around the world. Her cooling system for treatment of burns and fractures, meanwhile, was nominated for the Index Award 2011, as well as the Voice Clock 10 made together with Birgitte Due Madsen. Joining forces with Birgitte Due Madsen, a ceramist and product designer, Sylvia is exhibiting as part of 100% Norway for the first time with their new concept, the L/Lamp. After studying LED technology, future light sources, energy efficiency and environment in the famous Danish lighting designer Louis Poulsen’s light laboratory, Sylvia and Birgitte developed an unglazed porcelain mould that gives the normally cold energy efficient bulb, in this case an 11W energy saving bulb with a lifetime of 15 000 hours, a warm and radiant glow. Using a counterweight with a built-in plug, the lamp appears to balance magically, as do the unexpectedly contrasting materials of fragile ceramic and rough rubber.
birgitteduemadsen.dk
100% Norway
48
Protoype
London Design Festival
Sylvia Holthen & Birgitte Due Madsen
51
The furniture company Tonning was established in 1946 and is situated between mountains and fjords in Stryn on the west coast of Norway. This year at 100% Norway, Tonning is presenting two products: Alf Sture’s Windsor chair from 1975 and the brand new dining series Vang, designed by Andreas Engesvik. Alf Sture was in-house designer at Tonning from the 60s until his death in 2000, creating some 120 different designs for the company over the years. It was his belief that: “Furniture should function as intended. It is particularly important that the furniture follows anatomical requirements, and that the form creates an environment of security and warmth.” The timeless and colourful Ola Windsor chairs were inspired by the well-known British Windsor chair. In 2010 Tonning invited the renowned designer Andreas Engesvik to design a dining series. The resulting Vang chair and table is based on traditional woodworking techniques with no screws, making use of Tonning’s tried and tested techniques. With its minimalistic lines and sober expression, the chair is bound to be a new classic.
tonning.no andreasengesvik.no
100% Norway
50
Manufacturer: Tonning Design: Alf Sture Andreas Engesvik
London Design Festival
Tonning/Alf Sture/Andreas Engesvik
53
Vibeke Skar exhibited her designs for the first time in Milan at Ventura Lambate during the Salone del Mobile in 2010. Since then she has travelled around the world, exhibiting at design fairs in Tokyo, Stockholm, London, Paris, Oslo, Washington DC and New York, winning several awards along the way and putting three collections in production. Best known for the Evergreen glass lamps by Northern Lighting, the Arctic table by Corinor and the Story Lamp by Leitmotiv, Vibeke also now works for Porsgrund Porcelain factory as an in-house designer. Having become a mum for the first time this year, childhood memories and toys are at the forefront of Vibeke’s mind, and the inspiration for her new pieces springs from a fantasy world inhabited by princesses, kings and queens and castles. The Royal Family is a collection of decorative glass vessels with fairytale details and shapes. Designed to be effective when used alone or arranged into evocative groupings, the King and Queen function as flower vases or candleholders, while the princess can store sweets, chocolates or precious jewellery.
vibekeskar.com
100% Norway
52
Prototype
London Design Festival
Vibeke Skar
55
Victoria Günzler and Sara Wright Polmar met at Oslo National Academy of the Arts, where they were both already attracting a fair amount of attention. Sara had her coat rack Stack produced and sold by Bolia, and Victoria was listed in Wallpaper* magazine’s graduate list 2012. Less than a year after graduating, the pair has already landed their first joint contract with Bolia: the mirror and hook system Spotted will be launched this autumn. Both obsessive about details and quality, nature and craft techniques are Victoria’s main sources of inspiration, whereas Sara emphasizes playfulness and elegance in her design process. This is the duo’s first time at 100% Norway, and they are presenting two new products: the bench Benkt, and an accompanying blanket, a prototype manufactured in cooperation with Røros Tweed. Benkt is a contemporary interpretation of a traditional Scandinavian kitchen bench, and is meant to provide a comfortable social setting during a meal. It is upholstered with cushions made from the wool fabric Gandal from Gudbrandsdalen Uldvarefabrik, which are affixed to the blonde pine structure using leather straps. There is also a shelf under the seat for extra storage. The Benkt Blanket pattern is an interpretation of the cushions’ geometric lines.
victoriagunzler.no sarapolmar.no rorostweed.no
100% Norway
54
Manufacturers: Benkt Blanket prototype produced by Røros Tweed Prototype: Benkt Sofa
London Design Festival
Victoria Günzler & Sara Wright Polmar
57
Norway’s reigning queens of crockery, Wik & Walsøe are once again returning to 100% Norway to showcase their latest launches and best-selling tableware. Having presented their debut collection at 100% Norway in 2007, this year marks the design duo’s fifth anniversary. Since leaving secure corporate careers to join forces and set up their company together, Linda Svedal Walsøe and Ragnhild Wik have been relentlessly pursuing their shared dream to create beautiful porcelain. Their success has been unprecedented, winning them multiple awards and a loyal, international customer base. Wik & Walsøe’s design inspiration is based on dreams, nature, Norwegian folklore, cultural heritage and supernatural phenomena. Their original and most popular range features a mythical elf. “She symbolises dreams, hope and the belief in making the impossible come true,” explains Ragnhild. She was an instant commercial success. “The elf has helped us reach our dream; to create porcelain that will hopefully be kept and passed on to friends or family for generations.” In a fitting tribute for their fifth anniversary and to be launched at 100% Norway 2012, the Elfin collection will be available in gold. The Wik & Walsøe porcelain consists of precious vitreous feldspar porcelain produced from pure natural and lead-free materials. One of the most sustainable materials you can find, it is characterised by its whiteness, transparency and pure sound. The porcelain is burnt at very high temperatures, which makes it extra strong and 100% impervious even before glazing. Wik & Walsoe will also launch a series of hand painted porcelain candleholders at the exhibition.
wik-walsoe.no
100% Norway
56
Manufacturers: Wik & Walsøe
London Design Festival
Wik & Walsøe
58
Credits
Publisher
London Design Festival
Curators Design Editors Printed at Copies
Royal Norwegian Embassy 25 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8QD +44Â 207Â 591 5500 norway.org.uk/100percent
Royal Norwegian Embassy, London Henrietta Thompson & Benedicte Sunde Heydays.no Henrietta Thompson & Benedicte Sunde Aldgate Press 2000
norway.org.uk/100percent