Copenhagen’s popular design festival 3 Days of Design returned from 12-14 June. We round up the latest design news and inspiration from the Danish capital
Photography courtesy of Bolon and Atelier September
Words by Jessica-Christin Hametner
Denmark’s biggest design festival 3 Days of Design returned from 12-14 June. Despite the downpour for most of the week, the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of visitors as people reconnected with friends and wandered the streets to soak up the buzz.
Sparking inspiration and connections from around the globe, what stood out at this year’s edition is the truly global and open-minded approach of 3 Days of Design and how the show continues to provide a platform for international talents to showcase new concepts within design.
From cross-cultural collaborations to the emerging Nordic designers to know, 3 Days of Design staged a spectacular show that left us feeling inspired. Experience more of ICON’s highlights below as we travelled by foot, bike and boat to bring you the best design news.
1. Designing Memories by Luca Nichetto and &Tradition
Photography courtesy of &Tradition featuring Designing Memories
Taking visitors on a journey through time, Venice and Stockholm-based designer Luca Nichetto teamed up with &Tradition on Designing Memories, a showcase of mementos that celebrated familial love, as well as the ongoing collaboration between the Italian designer and Danish brand.
Told through a curated selection of objects designed by Nichetto for &Tradition, Designing Memories was a tribute to Nichetto’s childhood. From the playful Lato table, which recalled fond memories of the designer and his grandfather, to the new Sett table and never-before-seen finishes of Nichetto’s Tabata lamps, reminiscent of his grandparents’ bracelet, the playful exhibition pulled on heartstrings.
With a soothing colour palette, 3D sculptural elements and plenty of &Tradition design, Designing Memories unfolded across various chapters. A reflection of Nichetto’s curiosity and innovative approach to craft, the installation revived deep memories as much as it highlighted the designer’s affinity for sentimental expression.
2. Niveau by Louise Roe Studio and Gallery
Photography by Direction Bureaux featuring Louise Roe’s Vinci vase
Copenhagen-dwelling interior design brand Louise Roe made its 3 Days of Design debut with Niveau. A theatrical draping fabric unveiled the dreamy exhibition, which featured a constellation of objects and furniture alongside recycled elements used from a previous display.
As visitors explored the Nordic-inspired interior, they walked through a beautifully adorned space, hugged by delicate white curtains, which cast a soft glow throughout. Niveau also featured a selection of Louise Roe-designed pieces, including the Vinci vase, the studio’s ceramic Halo Light Sculpture and its new Loft Lamp, together evoking an otherworldly charm.
Louise Roe Gallery, as mentioned previously here, is a uniquely minimalist concept store in Copenhagen where art, design and hospitality converge. Complete with a café, The Roe Bar, visitors can indulge in cups of aromatic coffees, matcha lattes, or a spot of lunch during the festivities.
3. A Calm Place by Sébastien El Idrissi and Sara de Campos
Photography courtesy of Keld Helmer-Petersen Foundation, featuring Korshage House in Rørvig, Denmark, designed by Erik Korshagen, 1960
Bringing together emerging designer-makers, A Calm Place, an installation celebrating the next generation of global talent, unfolded during 3 Days of Design at Refugio, a new community space in Nordhavn, offering a home to young designers and independent creatives in the city.
Curated by Swiss industrial designer Sébastien El Idrissi and Portuguese designer and photographer Sara de Campos, A Calm Place united an international group of emerging talent, such as Parisian designer Thélonious Goupil and Auckland-based Ted Synnott, with Danish home culture. Furthermore, it also marked the launch of Objective Studies, a newly established digital platform for objects and furniture.
Inspired by Danish architecture, and more specifically the Korshage House, a modernist summer home designed and built by architect Erik Korshagen in 1960 for his own use, it is located in Rørvig, Denmark, and offers a minimalist take on Japan’s distinguished architecture and design ethos. The two cultures have been exchanging ideas for centuries, but the biggest influence came in the 1950s when Japanese architects began drawing from the simple and functional designs of Danish homes.
The exhibition name, A Calm Place, found its inspiration not only in the quiet surrounding area of the Korshage House, but moreover, the curators believed that the home’s calm design language offered a timeless approach of how to design long-lasting objects. Creating a connection between Danish home culture and its influence on today’s global design landscape, A Calm Place aimed to demonstrate that – if things are thoughtfully conceived, taking materials, people and the environment into consideration – they can stand the test of time and remain for the generations to come.
4. Collage by FRAMA and Faye Toogood
Photography courtesy of FRAMA and Faye Toogood featuring Collage
The results of a collaboration between FRAMA, a multidisciplinary design brand based in Copenhagen, and British artist and designer Faye Toogood, Collage provided a rich conversation around natural materials and unadorned aesthetics. Bridging the link between new design launches and boundary-pushing design, Collage created a space for creativity, joy and the exchange of ideas.
As part of the exhibition, the pair unveiled a limited-edition capsule collection of collaborative pieces. Full of playful designs and an eye-catching colour palette, it comprises a hand-painted edition of Toogood’s Roper Gilet and a matching oversized tote bag, as well as a limited gift box containing FRAMA’s iconic Herbarium-scented hand cream and hand wash, all repackaged with the colourful and painterly shapes of Collage.
Celebrating the creative exchanges and cross-pollination of the design industry, the installation featured both iconic pieces and the recently launched Isle Glass Series, the Glass Rivet Box Table, and objects that expand on the ongoing Folding Flat series designed by Mumbai-based studio Casegoods.
5. NoDe by Natalia Sánchez (House of Nordic Design)
Photography courtesy of NoDe and House of Nordic Design
Curated by Natalia Sánchez, who recently founded her platform House of Nordic Design, NoDe provided a stage for up-and-coming creatives, as well as smaller companies and brands to present their work to the world. Originally unveiled in 2023 on a 300 sq m boat docked along Copenhagen’s Refshaleøen neighbourhood, this year NoDe took over the top floor of a city centre apartment on Store Strandstræde.
Accessible via a classic vintage elevator, which was only able to carry four people at a time, or for those brave enough, visitors could climb the stairs to the loft, NoDe showcased the works of 28 designers from across the Nordic region whose works embody the sort of progressive ethos Scandinavia is known for – creative, sustainable, modern.
The eclectic mix of objects, lighting and conceptual pieces offer a fresh perspective on the enduring principles of Scandinavian design. From the bold patterns of A Seat in Siena catering to the ever-changing needs of urban designs to the sculptural works of Linda Weimann and the meticulously crafted objects of Studio Maree, NoDe offers a holistic and hopeful view of the future of design.
6. Bolon x Atelier September
Photography courtesy of Bolon and Atelier September
In the spirit of collaboration we’d expect to find in the Nordics, Swedish flooring company Bolon joined forces with Atelier September, a Copenhagen institution founded by Frederik Bille Brahe that has garnered a cult-following ever since opening its doors in 2013. The duo teamed up for a 3 Days of Design pop-up that celebrated Bolon’s 75th anniversary.
At Atelier September, image-heavy food and aesthetics perfectly merged to create the perfect blend of delicious food and design-led interiors, all complete with an unparalleled ambiance, but what made this collaboration the more exciting, was Bolon’s unexpected use of its woven material.
Delivering endless possibilities, Bolon’s flooring material covered both the interior and exterior of Atelier September, but showed the versatility of its customisations with bespoke accessories and playful drapery. While enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, visitors could experience the variety of Bolon flooring in a textured, inviting space that offered plenty of food for thought.
7. Nagare by Ariake
Photography by Sebastian Stadler featuring Nagare by Ariake
At Designhouse CPH on Kanonbådsvej 4A, an industrial warehouse with views of the water, Japanese brand Ariake presented Nagare together with Copenhagen-based distributor Est.18. The expansive space displayed Ariake’s latest collection, comprised of Hinoki wood furniture, a cabinet crafted with Washi and pieces finished with vivid shades of Sumi inks.
Realised with the help of Bonsai artist Jan Leung of Danish plant supplier Bonsai Murin and Gen Taniguchi of Nao Washi, a producer of traditional handmade Japanese paper with a modern twist, Nagare also showcased Bonsai and Washi sculptures, which honour Japanese traditions and ways of making.
Finding its name in the Japanese for “flow”, Nagare showed eight new products from a diverse group of international designers, including Singapore and Porto-based designer Gabriel Tan, Norwegian duo Anderssen & Voll, and Tokyo architectural studio Keiji Ashizawa, as well as Danish Norm Architects, Swedish designer Monica Förster, Naoki Terada and Porto-dwelling Christian Haas.
8. Young Hopes by Gubi and UNICEF
Photography courtesy of Gubi and UNICEF featuring Young Hopes
Danish luminary Gubi might be known for producing some of the world’s most recognisable designs – think the Multi-lite pendant, its Beetle dining chair and the curvy Timberline floor lamp – but now the label is turning its attention to a new campaign with UNICEF.
Entitled Young Hopes, it introduced a limited edition design of Pierre Paulin’s iconic Pacha Lounge Chair, with 100% of the profits from the sale going towards protecting and improving the lives of children in major but lesser-known crisis zones around the globe in countries such as Burkina Faso, Myanmar and Sudan.
Cloud-like and comfortable, the Pacha Lounge Chair remains one of Gubi’s most popular designs. For the Young Hopes campaign, the Copenhagen-based brand has pledged a total of 100 chairs in three exclusive colourways sourced from surplus fabrics: Lupo Special Diagonal Bouclé 007, Harp 102, and Mumble 02.
Not far from Gubi’s waterside home in Nordhavn, UNICEF operates the largest humanitarian supply hub in the world. From here, lifesaving medical supplies, education materials, sanitation kits, and more begin their journeys to wherever in the world they are most needed.
9. Domestic Pleasures by Tableau
Photography by Tobias Hoffmann featuring Domestic Pleasures by Tableau
Danish multidisciplinary studio Tableau has always taken an experimental approach to design. Since setting up their space in 2018, founder and florist Julius Værnes Iversen aspired to showcase flora as art. For this year’s edition of 3 Days of Design, Tableau showed Domestic Pleasures, two exhibitions that delved into the question: What makes a place a home?
Challenging conventional notions of belonging, and inviting viewers to explore the intricate tapestry of emotions woven into the concept of home, Tableau explored functional art and its ability to reflect on the intangible elements that transform a space into a sanctuary of belonging. Through the diverse perspectives of a group of contributing artists like Ali Gallefoss, Alyssa Megan Lewis and Anton Hendrik Denys, among others, Tableau aimed to spark dialogue and introspection on the universal quest for a place to call home.
Known for its multidisciplinary and disruptive approach to design, this relaunch not only served as a showcase of artistic talent but also as a statement of the studio’s journey in finding a place to belong in Tableau’s new locations: Tableau’s concept store in Store Strandstræde and its gallery at Vimmelskaftet. By opening their doors to this exploration of home, the Danish studio reaffirms its commitment to fostering a sense of community.
10. Plan Armchair by Barber Osgerby for Fredericia
Photography courtesy of Fredericia featuring Plan Armchair by Barber Osgerby
Ever since its launch in 2022, the Plan Collection by Barber Osgerby for Fredericia has quickly gained in popularity. Last year the Danish brand expanded the range with the launch of three new designs – the Barstool, Column Table and High Table – and during this year’s 3 Days of Design, Fredericia released the eagerly awaited Plan Armchair and Plan Arm Barstool in new bio-coloured versions.
Comprising a series of chairs, barstools and tables suitable for modern living, the collection explores materiality, tactility and craftsmanship, probing the connection between people and objects. Fredericia’s commitment to sustainability runs through the entire collection as each component of the Plan Collection chairs and tables are prepared for end-of-use disassembly and ease of possible future reparations, such as change of upholstery.
What’s more, the tables are also available in the newly launched Kvadrat Really Textile Tabletops – an innovative alternative made of upcycled end-of-life textiles. The solution is a no-waste material that is 100% circular, long-lasting and certified to the industry’s highest standard for wear and tear.
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