Launching this week as part of Stockholm Design Days, the Lozza rug collection by Erik Bratsberg for LAYERED will be unveiled within the artist’s Stockholm residence
Photography by Andy Liffner, The Lozza Rug by Erik Bratsberg for LAYERED comes in two colourways and is hand-tufted from wool
Words by Roddy Clarke
While referencing the sculptural aesthetic of his wall art, designer and artist Erik Bratsberg’s initial motivation behind his new rug collection for LAYERED stemmed from a wine stain on a rug. ‘It’s what triggered my relationship with LAYERED as I had purchased a rug from them for the lounge of a restaurant project and, during its opening week, it was completely drenched in red wine,’ he explains. ‘Our first conversations discussed developing a pattern that could visually absorb wine spills. However, while that idea is still on the back burner, it did influence the design as the central area of the rug, where you typically place a coffee table, is darker in colour to make it less sensitive to staining.’
Merging form and function, Bratsberg also turned to a wall sconce he had designed for the same restaurant, using it as inspiration and a tool to translate his artistic language into this new form. The result is the Lozza Rug: an organically shaped design reflecting the artist’s signature style. Offered in two colourways with three tonal hues in each design, the rug is an exploration of form, colour and function with its name taken from the Italian term tavolozza, meaning ‘artist’s palette’. ‘A rug often acts as the starting point when designing a room,’ he says, ‘so I wanted the two colourways to function as guiding palettes for the surrounding interior.’
Photography by Andy Liffner, Erik Bratsberg is a Swedish multidisciplinary artist and designer exploring the intersection of form, function and colour
With both variations complementing a variety of interior styles, the launch takes place in Bratsberg’s Stockholm apartment, setting the scene perfectly. As part of Stockholm Design Days, a curated selection of design events taking part across Sweden’s capital city, visitors will be able to witness Bratsberg’s creativity firsthand. ‘I often use my own home as a backdrop for generating ideas,’ he explains, ‘which makes it fun to host the launch of the rugs there. I have two interconnected rooms, one in warm hues and the other in cooler tones. From the outset, I wanted to create two colourways that would naturally suit each space.’
Photography by Andy Liffner, The two colourways have been designed to suit different interior schemes and palettes as showcased in his two apartment rooms
Be it interiors, furniture or art, Bratsberg’s sculptural sensitivity remains prevalent throughout his many creative endeavours. And, in breaking free from strict design boundaries, his organic aesthetic seemingly reflects his own design journey. Having worked for ten years in finance, Bratsberg took a career change, turning to design in 2019. ‘I felt a strong urge to break free from rigid forms, perfect alignments and symmetry,’ he says. ‘In a world where production rationalisation has often taken priority, a certain artistry in our aesthetic environment has been lost. I wanted to return to real craft, while exploring ornamentation in a contemporary way.’ Designing both residential and commercial interiors, alongside statement works of art and functional furniture for the home, Bratsberg strives for freedom and fluidity across each discipline. ‘Art is my most exploratory area,’ he continues, ‘where I can freely test and develop forms and expressions. And, when the opportunity arises, I can translate them into more functional pieces, as happened with the Lozza rug.’
Photography by Andy Liffner, The organic design of the rug was inspired by a wall sconce conceived by Bratsberg that was an extension of an art series exploring balance within asymmetrical geometries
For the Swedish rug studio, it is creatives with a distinct visual language such as Bratsberg that make ideal collaborators. ‘We approach people whose expression we genuinely admire and feel inspired by,’ reveals the brand’s founder and Creative Director, Malin Glemme. ‘We see the rug as a white canvas so, when we invite a collaborator in, it’s about giving them the space to leave their imprint rather than adapting their work to a predefined framework. The success lies in that trust, allowing their perspective to lead while we translate it into a rug through our craftsmanship and material knowledge.
Photography by Andy Liffner, The textural design showcases the artisanal expertise of LAYERED, bringing Bratsberg’s artistic vision to life
Hand-tufted from wool, Lozza’s harmonious balance of form and function celebrates the exquisite ability of LAYERED’s talented artisans through Bratsberg’s artistic lens. And, while being his first foray into rug design, Bratsberg states it certainly won’t be the last. ‘Collaborating with LAYERED has been something of a dream process for a broad-based creative like me,’ he comments. ‘When you’re met with an open-minded partner who places trust in you and generously shares their knowledge and craftsmanship, it opens an entirely new world of possibilities. Having free rein while gaining access to a new craft and material fuels my creative energy and that sense of synergy was central to the development of this collection.’
For Glemme, she hopes that those who encounter this new collection are quietly surprised by it. ‘Lozza isn’t about perfection or symmetry, but about harmony, the kind you sense rather than analyse. Ultimately, I want it to feel personal, almost as if it has found its place rather than having been placed there.’
The collection starts from £1495 and is available online from February 3rd at LAYERED.
Get a curated collection of design and architecture news in your inbox by signing up to our ICON Weekly newsletter
