Norway at the 21st Annual ICFF in the Big Apple
Variér Eight. Photo: Hugo Opdal / www.norskdesign.no
This year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) will be held in New York City, from May 16th to 19th, 2009. The Fair will present over 600 exhibitors from 32 different countries, and also feature some Norwegian furniture designers.
Norwegian design
At this year’s ICFF Aksel Hansson and Variér Furniture will exhibit some of their furniture. Aksel Hannson is know for their AKSEL-chair which is classic, simple, pure in style and elegant. Variér Furniture recently got two Norwegian design awards. The Variér Penguin, designed by Peter Opsvik, received the prize for its gracious curves of laminated wood and for its innovative functionality of movement between the seat and the legs. And the Variér Eight, a high kitchen chair designed by Olav Eldøy, was acclaimed for its beautiful organic shape and for the integrated tilting mechanism which invites to a revolutionary sitting experience compared with traditional bar stools.
Simplicity and Functionality
Traditionally, the Norwegian furniture producers found their inspiration in classic models, but from the 1930s they started cooperating with professional designers, and the 1960s are usually seen as the first golden era of Norwegian furniture design. During this time, an independent style was developed, focusing on simplicity, functionality and quality. Today, despite high wages and a lot of international competition, as much as 50 per cent of the furniture sold in Norway is made in Norway. From the 1990’s we have seen the growth of a range of young designers with cutting edge furniture. Functionalism and the pioneers of the 60’s are still inspirations, Insidenorway.no explains on their website, but the designers are more and more open to impulses from the international market. The industry consists of about 400 companies, and more than 30 per cent of the production is exported. Internationally renown Norwegian furniture products include The Ekornes Stressless chair and The Stokke Tripp Trapp children chair.
More information
For more information about Norwegian furniture design, visit Insidenorway.no. The site is a part of a greater project called Innovation Møbel (møbel means furniture), which promotes Norwegian furniture on the domestic and international markets.
The 2009 ICFF will take place at the Jackob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, May 16th to 19th, 2009. For more information about ICFF, visit Icff.com
Source: Norway.org
