Highlights from 3 Days of Design 2022 | Part 1

After more than two years of cancellations and postponements, design events are back in force, and last week I headed over to Copenhagen for its annual 3 Days of Design festival. It was my first time travelling beyond the UK since Covid kicked off, and it was such a joy to be back in one of my favourite cities (somewhere I used to visit every few months) after so long away. It was also wonderful to soak up some inspiration and see industry friends in person again, and I’ve returned home brimming with ideas and new discoveries.

Although many people assume you have to be invited to 3 Days of Design, it’s actually a free event that’s open to the public. I’d definitely recommend a visit – there are more than 200 installations and exhibitions, together with a programme of talks and tours, and it’s a real treat for anyone with an interest in Scandinavian design. Thanks to EasyJet cancelling my original flight I had less time to take it all in than I’d planned, but I still managed to cover more than 55,000 steps and see 30 different places. There were so many inspiring things that I can’t share them all in one go – and two absolute favourites where I took so many photos that they’re going to need their own dedicated blog posts! But for now, here are some of my highlights…

Carl Hansen & Søn

My first stop was long-term favourite Carl Hansen & Søn, which opened up its showroom for a music-themed exhibition called ‘The Sound of Design’. The focus was a collection of pieces created by pioneering Danish functionalist architect Vilhelm Lauritzen (1894-1984) for his public building projects and now going into full production with Carl Hansen for the very first time.

Originally designed for Folkets Hus, a labour movement meeting place that subsequently became the Vega music venue, the stackable VLA26 ‘Vega’ chair is an elegant mix of steel and wood with a distinctive curved backrest. I was very taken by the precise look of the optional upholstery, and by the subtle detailing on the wooden feet. The ‘Foyer’ series, meanwhile, comprises a bench, a chair and a sofa created for Radiohuset – a concert hall that also used to house the headquarters of national Danish broadcaster DR. Crafted from solid oak, with cushions that feature beautiful folds on the corners, they come in a choice of soft leather as per Lauritzen’s prototypes, or fabric upholstery with a slightly more contemporary expression.

All the designs have stayed true to the originals but the back angles and sizes have been tweaked to suit today’s needs. They were beautifully presented alongside sheet music, Lauritzen’s own sketches, musical instruments and stunning photos of the two venues, and will be available to order soon.

Fritz Hansen

A firm favourite with many attendees at 3 Days of Design, Fritz Hansen’s exhibition took place in a specially built pavilion in the grounds of Designmuseum Danmark. The structure was created by architect Henning Larsen to celebrate the brand’s 150th birthday and featured iconic pieces such Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Egg’ and ‘Series 7’ chairs and Poul Kjærholm’s ‘PK61’ coffee table, all now available in new materials as part of the ‘Anniversary Collection’. The whole place was bathed in beautifully soft light thanks to the translucent panels and slanted roof beams, and come evening it was transformed into a party venue where I ended up hitting the dance floor – the first time I’ve danced anywhere other than my own kitchen since February 2020!

The pavilion will now be used as a platform for workshops, talks and school groups, before being dismantled after summer. All the materials will then be recycled and reused in the renovation of Fritz Hansen’s headquarters.

Kristina Dam Studio

Also marking an anniversary this year is the eponymous studio of designer Kristina Dam, founded in 2012 and known for its sculptural minimalism. During 3 Days of Design it took over the apartment of Grenaa Creative founder Kim Grenaa, which sits in a converted factory building with pale wooden floors, floor-to-ceiling aluminium-framed windows and textured walls.

It was the perfect setting to showcase Kristina’s recent designs, which include the stunning geometric ‘Frame’ sculpture created especially for the studio’s tenth year. There were also a couple of brand-new launches on display, most notably the ‘Outline’ desk, which combines a sleek metal frame with textural oak drawers that can sit on the left or right as you prefer. And behind it was an artwork made up of left-over pieces from the production of Kristina’s minimalist stool / side table, assembled into a tower-like form and charred black using the Japanese shou sugi ban technique.

Gubi

To celebrate its first foray into alfresco living, Gubi turned its quayside showroom into a leafy oasis brimming with plants. It formed a wonderful backdrop for the woven-seated teak ‘F-Chair’ and ‘C-Chair’, Mathieu Matégot’s fringed ‘Tropique’ chair and matching table, and outdoor versions of legendary French designer Pierre Paulin’s curvaceous ‘Pacha’ seating series, all illuminated by Bill Curry’s mushroom-like portable ‘Obello’ lamp.

As well as falling for the alfresco collection, I was very taken by two new indoor pieces from Danish-Italian duo GamFratesi: a 3D veneer version of their iconic ‘Beetle’ chair, with a bolder, more voluminous expression; and the solid-marble ‘Doric’ coffee table, which features niche-like legs inspired by classical architecture.

The showroom also played host to a series of talks in keeping with the outdoor theme, and I attended one by adventurer and photographer Morten Kirckhoff. He specialises in exploring and documenting abandoned buildings around the world, and his Instagram account is well worth a look for haunting images such as this one.

File Under Pop

Located in a period apartment building, the studio of surface design specialists File Under Pop was a real treat. I spent a very happy half hour exploring room after room of gorgeous colours, patterns and textures, with hand-painted wallpaper, super-matt paint and tiles crafted from Spanish clay and Italian lava stone. Me being me, the delicate greens, greys and blushes appealed most, but I also appreciated seeing how bolder shades can be combined in unexpected ways. The in-house collection of sculptural vases in particular caught my eye, with four simple shapes made from white earthenware and clad with a custom ceramic glaze.

&Tradition

Last but not least in this first part of my 3 Days of Design round-up is &Tradition, whose showroom occupies an early 20th-century townhouse with a sweeping staircase and leafy courtyard cafe.

For this year’s event, it was transformed in collaboration with Italian design studio Studioutte, who used it to explore the connection between art and design. I loved the way airy white spaces gave way to darker rooms decorated in deep green and earthy terracotta, but it was the lighting that draw my attention most. One area featured a spectacular display of Jaime Hayon’s ‘Formakami’ pendant lamps (a Japanese-inspired paper design which I have in my own guest bedroom); another, a giant cluster of Verner Panton ‘Flowerpot’ lights arranged to resemble a chandelier. And throughout, 21st-century designs sat alongside Scandinavian icons from the 1930s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s – the kind of mix that never fails to appeal.

Stay tuned for more from 3 Days of Design next week!

All photography by Abi Dare