Dear retired Bruno!

A retired lounge chair is sitting like a fine piece of art by the large window in my living room… Her name is Pernilla but she´s always been nicknamed ”Bruno” after Bruno Mathsson who designed this masterpiece in 1944. Bruno’s got a sleek, curved frame in laminated beech and original green paper webbing, now faded into a pale lime green. She’s no longer steady on her feet, and is wobbling slightly at touch. After close to 75 years of use this chair is now turned into a nest for cats. And as such she´ll remain.

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Pernilla with the now very rare green paper webbing. Photo by Jacksons.

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Pernilla with the now very rare red paper webbing. Photo by Jacksons.

Retired Bruno Mathsson chair turned into cats nest

Baby knew all along that Bruno actually would make a great cat nest (comfy…but also the perfect match to her emerald eyes…). Hera though is indifferent to the value of design. Food, sleep and some hunting makes her day. Everyday.

Architectual moves, Bruno Mathsson, Compassionates, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, Friends, Jacksons 2018-11-19

Office of tomorrow

Several Scandi brands attended Orgatec 2018 – the international fair in Cologne where furniture for the contemporary and future office space were on display. Swedish Wästberg exhibited as partner to Vitra within their ”Work Concept” space. And launched lighting with a high-tech, minimalistic and environmental friendly design. When the traditional office space and interior is under change, the Scandi brands establish a conceptual take on the office: Wästberg use form and function to bring lighting to a level where the lamp is not a fixed structure but a multifunctional nice obejct you may bring with you into different spaces over time.

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w182pastille by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin/ Industrial Facility for Wästberg (2018). Bio-polyamide based on 60% biologically and recycable material from the castor plant. Dimmable from a single LED rather than an array, which reduces heat as well as energy use. This is achieved by reaching a state of equilibrium between its single light source, a large reflector and large diffuser. Photo copyright Wästberg.

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w182pastille has a construction that allows a variety of ‘surfaces’ to be illuminated. Different to task lamps that illuminate in a focused way; or table and pendant lamps that provide ambient light, the lamp sees environments as surfaces to softly illuminate. The w182 pastille is able to freely articulate between surfaces by rotating up, down and around. Photo copyright Wästberg.

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w182pastille by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin for Wästberg (2018). Comes in colours Oxide Red, Olive Green Soft White and Graphite Black. Photo copyright Wästberg.

Architectual moves, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes, Wästberg 2018-11-07

The unfolding of beauty…

It’s time for the amaryllis bulbs to be planted and the hyacinths to go into vases. In app. 6 weeks from now the graceful flowers will blossom, filling the room with their lovely scent!

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Amaryllis bulbs to be planted in rich soil some six weeks before Christmas. Styling by Cia Wedin- Photo copyright Anna Kern.

Amaryllis white lime

I’ll keep this beauty in mind while following the amaryllis of 2018 while they grow, slowly… into tall and slender…into white and lime…into perfection.

 

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Hyacinth bulbs in Olympia vases by Ingegerd Råman for Skruf. Hats made of Carta Varese paper from Carta Pura. Wooden dear by Gunnar Johnsson for E Torndahl. Styling by Cia Wedin. Photo copyright Anna Kern.

 

Anna Kern, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, In the Season, Scandimood 2018-11-06

Little Sun Black Diamond

Art + Sustainability is a strong trend and some projects manage to balance an artistic integrity with hard core pragmatism. In 2012 Olafur Eliasson teamed up with engineer Frederik Ottesen and founded Little Sun – a foundation and business, with the aim to bring sun energy to people who have no access to the electrical grid. Since the start more than 650 000 lamps have been sold of the original Little Sun lamp. Last year the team launched Little Sun Diamond, a pocket sized, feather light, solar powered lamp made of biodegenrable plastic. 5 hours charging in the sun gives 5 hours of bright light, fading to a longlasting soft light. Now Little Sun steps up with the release of Little Sun Black Diamond, a special edition in stylish carbon black. For each lamp sold two solar lamps will go to people in an area without reliably access to energy. The campaign runs November 1st until Christmas.

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Little Sun Black Diamond by Olafur Eliasson for Little Sun (2018). Photo copyright Little Sun.

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Five hours charge in the sun gives five hours bright light and then a slowly fade into a soft light over a time period of several hours. Little Sun Black Diamond by Olafur Eliasson for Little Sun (2018). Photo copyright Little Sun.

Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Environmental friendly 2018-11-05

Index yourself!

A nice surprise or your worst nightmare…Check out your actual carbon footprint with The Climate Account online calculator. The Climate Account has been developed by IVL Swedish Environmental Institute and is free for anyone to use as a help to detect how your lifestyle affects climate change.

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Fresh and Fading Memories, hanging sculpture installation by one of my favourite artists Ghanaian born El Anatsui at Palazzo Fortuny in Venice (2007). An artistic recycling of aluminium wrappings and bottle-caps. Photo copyright Palazzo Fortuny.

Compassionates, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, Scandimood 2018-11-02

Larsson korgmakare

Larsson korgmakare in Old Town Stockholm is the last rattan furniture maker in Sweden! Erica Larsson is 4th generation at the company. Larssons make their own fab furniture but also Josef Frank’s beautiful chairs for Svenskt Tenn. Recently Larsson korgmakare made some fab pieces for Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, designed by Matti Klenell and Carina Seth Andersson. If in Stockholm, visit the newly restored Nationalmuseum and admire the handmade furniture from Larsson korgmakare!

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Chair by Matti Klenell for Nationalmuseum (2018). Handmade by Larsson korgmakare. Photo copyright Nationalmuseum.

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In the making: craftsman Lasse from Larsson korgmakare work on the new chair by Matti Klenell for Nationalmuseum (2018). Photo copyright Anna Kern.

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Erica Larsson at Larsson korgmakare working on a Josef Frank chair for Svenskt Tenn. From a piece for Svenska Dagbladet by Cia Wedin. Photo copyright Filippa Tredal.

Architectual moves, Carina Seth Andersson, Compassionates, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes, Friends, Scandimood 2018-10-21

Handicraft star!

The young design- and sustaiability minded handicraft spehere in Sweden make perfect blend of traditional and contemporary. One of the rising stars is Jennie Adén, who recieved her Barchelor of Fine Art degree at Beckmans College of Design (Stockholm 2018). Her graduation project ”Down to Earth” recieved a lot of positive attention due to the designers exquisite use of natural materials in a contemporary design. Trendy yet useful in the everyday Jennie Adéns objects question traditional production schemes. With her work she bring modes and values of contemporary design and traditional handicraft together. Earlier this year Jennie Adén won the Svenskt Tenn Design Award 2018, and exhibited at the Svenskt Tenn Gallery in september. She’s also the winner of a newly installed prize from Föreningen Svensk Hemslöjd and exhibit this week att Svensk Hemslöjd in Stockholm. Don´t miss out!

4_Jennie_Adén_DownToEarth_foto_Jennie_Adén-500x333Ticka bowls by Jennie Adén (2018). Granulated polypore and water. Photo copyright Jennie Adén.

Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes 2018-10-15

Black Hyacinth by Percy

A long time favourite of mine is the teacup Black Hyacinth by Arthur Percy for Gefle. Percy (1886–1976) presented this pattern in 1956, and it is one of the finest early screen prints on porcelain in Sweden. The cup feels good to handle and is perfect for tea. And… it is a lovley sight with the beautiful grown flowers on the cup, and the sweet bud pattern on the saucer.
Best tea cup ever? If only there´d been a pot too…!

Photo by Anna Kern

Svart Hyacint (Black Hyacinth) by Arthur Percy (1886–1976) for Gefle (later incorporated with Upsala Ekeby). Model: AU-2. In production: 1956–1976. To the right handcrafted ceramic bowls by Jonas Lindholm and glasses by Ingegerd Råman. From a piece by Cia Wedin for Lantliv. Photo copyright Anna Kern.

Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes 2018-10-13

Contemporary Classic: Book Cradle

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The Book Cradle by Bruno Mathsson from 1941 is one of the best small, mobile bookshelves ever. Made in solid beech it is still in production by Bruno Mathsson International. As a vintage piece the Book Cradle is rare, and often very expensive. Try Jacksons or Modernity, two of Stockholms best shops for Scandinavian vintage classics. Photo copyright Henrik Sandin.

To Read: Bruno Mathsson from Arena and Bruno Mathsson – Architect and Designer, Yale University Press.

 

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Book Cradle, Bruno Mathsson, Fab Swedes 2018-10-12

Bellhop by Barber Osgerby

Brittish design duo Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby in collaboration with Flos 2017 resulted in Bellhop, a series of handsome wall, floor and pendant lighting. Recently Flos launched a portable and rechargeable version of Bellhop, for indoor or outdoor (porch) use. You charge it by micro-USB-c and it’ll spread a clear light for app. 24 hours. I like the design and understand why using polycarbonate for the shell. PC is a durable plastic and when handled and used properly the risk of leaking toxines is small. But I wonder how this little sweetie is to be recycled, that day in the future when the LED function is worn out?

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Bellhop by Barber & Osgerby for Flos (2018). Photo copyright Flos.

 

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Bellhop portable by Barber & Osgerby for Flos (2018). Base and dome in coloured PC, diffuser in opaline injection moulded photo-engraved PC, 4-step dimmer function. Comes in colours chocholate, orange, gray and white. Photo copyright Barber & Osgerby.

 

Architectual moves, Barber & Osgerby, Contemporary Scandi 2018-10-11

The perfect birdhouse

Some small party of individuals, actually the cute Blue Tits of Old Town, are regular visitors to the feeding table outside our studio window. They’re especially active when a change of weather is under way. In the Nordic countries we’re now approaching winter and it is time to put up some new birdhouses!
Swedish farm Bankeberg make very functional and nice birdhouses. Order one! If not for your own garden it’ll make a perfect gift. Place the birdhouse on a secure spot during late Fall, and the wood will have enough time to get perfectly…dirty! That’s what the birds prefer when they nest in early spring. Put some straw or dry grass in the house and it’ll double as a shelter during cold winter nights.
The Bankeberg birdhouses comes for tits, starlings, fly catchers, owls, tree-creepers and bats.

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Talking to me? Blue Tit, photo copyright Damian Waters.

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Standard is a bird house for tits and flycatchers. It is easy to clean due to a front which can be opened. Photo copyright Bankebergs.

Animal Rights, Contemporary Scandi, Environmental friendly, Fab Swedes 2018-10-09

Contemporary classic: Pony by CSA

Access to clean water is essential for all life. In Stockholm we´re lucky to have really good tap-water. But as much as we enjoy it, we also have a tendency to take it for granted.
To celebrate the luxury of having free access to clean, clear, fantastic water I got myself a Pony carafe and can now enjoy the combination of good design and good water.

pony by Carina Seth Anderson
Pony is designed by Carina Seth Andersson for Skruf. Photo copyright Skruf.

Carina Seth Andersson, Contemporary Scandi, Eco Aesthetics, Fab Swedes, Friends 2018-10-08
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