The Scandinavian Design List: May 2021

The Scandinavian Design List is a tribute to all the inspiring design work that is coming out of this region. In this series, we put the spotlight on some of the most interesting latest releases.

The May edition of the Scandinavian Design List celebrates the arrival of the warmer season with several brands launching and updating their outdoor furniture ranges to get us ready for Scandinavian summer.

When it comes to design releases for indoors, a focus on seating options and sofa tables emphasizes togetherness and cosy times with loved ones. Long summer days and good company: that’s a combination we can get behind after the last couple of months.

Brdr. Krüger: Hans Bølling Tray Table in new colors

Danish family company Brdr. Krüger lets a classic of Danish design shine in new light: Bølling’s Tray Table was first designed in 1963. Now, the table is available in 14 new colors, all named after their natural source of inspiration – such as clay or sunny. The Tray Table is produced in Brdr. Krüger’s workshop in Værløse, just outside Copenhagen.

IKEA: Borgeby

In need of a sofa table that can double as storage space without looking heavy? IKEA has your back. The new addition to the Swedish furniture giant’s collection, Borgeby, combines a light birch veneer with an open structure and a storage unit that mirrors the table top. Find it now in the webshop.

Hem: Boa Pouf

For its latest international collaboration, Stockholm-based design company Hem is joining forces with Sabine Marcelis who lives and works in the Netherlands. Marcelis is known for her focus on materials and the Boa Pouf is her first design in a soft material: The donut-shaped lounge furniture is filled with foam and upholstered with wool. It has been knitted utilizing 3D technology which eliminates the need for seams and leaves no residual material, thus, reduces waste from production. Joyful design that pays attention to the environment; what’s not to like?

Massproductions: The Transparency Project & e-commerce launch

Over the last years, Massproductions has established itself as a respected player in the sustainable furniture space. In collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology, the Stockholm-based company is taking its sustainability commitment one step further.

Together, they have developed a tool for identifying the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production. The team is now releasing the data for four of its products on the newly launched e-commerce platform. Here, Massproductions offers a curated selection of its best-selling products and limited editions exclusive to massproductions.se.

Among these is the Tio Chair (more on that below), a wonderfully airy chair that is suitable for indoor and outdoor use; functionality at its best. Browse the e-commerce platform to discover more gems and learn more about the CO2 emissions associated with furniture production.

Massproductions: Tio collection and the Roadie bench in Oilcloth Green

Stockholm-based furniture company Massproductions is getting ready for the outdoor season: The popular Tio collection and the Roadie bench will now also be available in a beautiful new shade of green. No matter whether placed in a lush garden or a concrete backyard, Oilcloth Green is meant to complement the green of leaves as well as more urban surroundings. Find it on the newly launched e-commerce platform.

Very Good & Proper: Latte Chair

British manufacturer Very Good & Proper is launching its first outdoor collection. The Latte Chair is made with biocomposite technology from the Swedish company Trifilon, combining recycled plastic and hemp fibers. The Trifilon biocomposite helps to reduce the furniture’s CO2 footprint drastically; according to Very Good & Proper, the emissions are reduced by around 85% compared to a typical plastic chair. Numbers aside, the chair is beautiful to look at. In need of new outdoor furniture to enjoy slow summer breakfasts on the terrace? Take note.

Normann Copenhagen: Allez Chair

Normann Copenhagen is releasing its first chair for both indoor and outdoor use: The Allez Chair. Inspired by French bistro culture, it is rendered in a neutral color palette that fits most environments, inside or outside. Choose between a solid-cast polyamide seat or different kinds of upholstery by, for example, Sørensen Leather and Sunbrella. There are plenty of options to create a design that suits your personal style and needs.

Gärsnäs: Thalia Chair

In 1994, the Swedish furniture manufacturer Gärsnäs was commissioned to design red velvet chairs for the Gothenburg Opera’s main hall. The Thalia Chair, named after one of the nine muses of Greek methodology, was designed in a special shape that enhances the acoustic of the room. Now, 30 years later, rather than commissioning new chairs, the Gothenburg Opera has asked Gärsnäs to renovate all Thalia Chairs in the same quality and color as before. Original details in wood will be cleaned, while the fabric, leather and padding will be replaced on all 1356 chairs.

Ferm Living: Uta Piece

Danish interior brand Ferm Living is launching its Spring Summer collection, and the highlight is the Uta Piece. The multifunctional piece of furniture combines Brutalism-inspired, geometric shapes with FSC-certified pinewood that adds a sense of warmth. Whether you look at it as stool that can double as a side table or the other way around, its robust yet elegant expression surely is an eye-catcher.

GUBI: Violin Chair

GUBI and the Danish-Italian design duo GamFratesi are launching their latest collaboration: The Violin Chair. The understated half-arm dining chair adds some cosiness to every dining room, inviting long evenings spent with loved ones…without having to move to the sofa!

Want more Scandinavian design? Read the full Scandinavian Design List series and see our overview: What is Scandinavian Design?