Scandilicious: Highlights from Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign
The unique spring steel construction of the Grythyttan A2 chair promises ‘an unbeatably peaceful swing’ (Grythyttan)
Copenhagen has long been a breeding ground for decidedly cool design, from fashion to homeware. Last week, creatives descended upon the Danish capital once again for the 3daysofdesign festival – an annual inspiration-filled celebration of the best in Scandinavian and international interior design.
Between 12 – 14 June the city was buzzing with highly-anticipated launches and impressive exhibitions from industry icons and emerging talent alike. After scouring the 2024 showcase, I’ve rounded up some highlights.
Smart storage
A mid-century icon that revolutionised storage, String Furniture turns 75 this year. The brand celebrated this milestone at the Swedish Ambassador’s Residence and exhibited a new launch in collaboration with design studio, Form Us With Love – titled “Center Center” – alongside its core collections at Odd Fellow Mansion.
Designed for a modern office environment where flexibility is key, the new storage system is made up of many individual modules, allowing for near-endless configuration – in typical String fashion.
Good enough to eat
Helle Mardahl Studio displayed its delectable pastel-coloured glass creations at the brand’s flagship showroom and presented an installation and pop-up shop at Designmuseum Danmark.
Both venues saw a sweet shop-like display of tableware, lighting, and objets d’art – all hand-blown in Copenhagen and inspired by nostalgic childhood films such as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Defining ‘home’
Creative studio Tableau held an exhibition titled Domestic Pleasures, which posed the question: what makes a place a home?
Through the diverse perspectives of contributing artists – such as Ali Gallefoss, Forever Studio, Jacob Egeberg, Laurids Gallee, Lino Gasparitsch, Onno Adriaanse and Sigurd Nis Schelde – the brand hoped to spark dialogue and introspection on the universal quest for a sanctuary of belonging.
Alfresco accessories
For over 100 years, Grythyttan has been hand-crafting extremely weather-resistant garden furniture. 3daysofdesign revealed new additions to the brand’s iconic A2 armchair series, which has been an integral part of Swedish gardens since the 1930s.
The Libelle chair, which launched in 2023, has also been given a new colour spectrum for 2024. Perfect for urban dwellings, these slender silhouettes are designed to elevate even the most compact gardens or balconies.
Fine dining
British artist, Faye Toogood, teamed up with Scandinavian lifestyle brand, FRAMA, to create an exhibition titled “Collage” which “explored the intersection of art, design, food, and people.”
Visitors were invited to FRAMA’s adjoining eatery, Apotek 57, to dine on tactile sculptures – which looked like multi-coloured, interlocking 3D shapes. Staff wore hand-painted uniforms and sold a capsule collection of lifestyle objects, bespoke garments, and apothecary products which aim to inspire the senses and encourage mindful living.
La dolce vita
The Italian embassy in Copenhagen welcomed a selection of Italian designers, including first-time festival participant, Ethimo. The brand furnished the Italian ambassador’s residence with its outdoor ranges, highlighting their new “Rotin” set by Zanellato/Bortotto – a series of lounge and dining furniture characterised by graceful curves and soft edges.
Decades after the iconic serpentine sofa (which debuted in 1950), it’s clear designers are still loving modern interpretations of this sweeping seating silhouette, both indoors and out.