Event Report: 3 Days of Design 2016, Copenhagen

How cool is that? Artist Pernille Egeskov created Hjem – a snowballing bundle of Georg Jensen Damask’s linens, the feature of her installation at the ‘Dinesen Home’. Photo courtesy of Geogre Jensen Damask.

Another view of Hjem installation by Pernille Egeskov. Photo courtesy of Georg Jensen Damask.

Hjem installation by Pernille Egeskov. The deconstructed materials and objects were scattered throughout the stunning ‘Dinesen Home’. Photo courtesy of Georg Jensen Damask.

Hjem installation by Pernille Egeskov. Photo courtesy of Georg Jensen Damask.

Pernille Egeskov’s playful approach to the everyday. Imagine making this bed every morning!! Photo courtesy of Georg Jensen Damask.

Lillie ceiling a Hjem by Pernille Egeskov. !! The smell in here was almost overwhelming. Photo courtesy of Georg Jensen Damask.

Turning just four this year, 3 Days of Design has definitely come along in leaps and bounds. In a town like Copenhagen, traditions are everything. Luckily for this little festival, it is beginning to become the local design world’s favourite springtime festivity… if you can discount the one in Milano. So many Danes around that place!!

So, as per the previous year I set out on my trusty pushbike to see what the city could throw at me. The beauty of this festival is easily the city of Copenhagen. 3 Days of Design takes in some of the most beautiful and interesting parts of the city, and even though it has grown both in participants and geography, most sites are easily accessible on bike. The big brands of Denmark also have some of the most sublime showrooms in the world, each with its own flavour. Why stuff them all in a hall when you can see them at home? A couple of glasses of wine and some Danish hotdogs don’t hurt either.

Meanwhile at &Tradition showroom. Who wouldn’t want a sea of Marble Lights. Seriously stunning. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

The subtle baby blues and chalky oranges were the signature of Studiopepe’s takeover of &Tradition’s immersive showroom. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

These striking ruffled curtains gave the entrance to &Tradition’s showroom an almost theatrical touch. Seen here with Jamie Hayon’s Formakaki pendants. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Some divine colour ways and styling from Darling Creative Studio brought new life into the Fredericia showroom. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Fredericia showroom. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

A big trend of the festival was external collaborations, whether with artists, stylists, designers and even lifestyle brands. This is influenced from Milano, and the event being seen more as a cultural experience rather a buyers fair. Fredericia partnered with Darling Creative Studio to bring their showroom to colourful life, mixing great styling with matching painted window displays. Studiopepe were another stylistic inclusion. Given freedom over &Tradition’s showroom, they kept it simple but created spaces of great texture and muted colours, pastel oranges and blues.

The most notable was the impressively immersive work of artist Pernille Egeskov, who was asked by Dinesen, Fritz Hansen, and Georg Jensen Damask to take over the “Dinesen Home” in the city centre. Entitled Hjem, her work dissected the components of each brand, with installations referencing our relationship with these pieces. Plus it included a ceiling covered in Lilies… who could ask for more.

The Embrace Lounge chair by EOOS for Carl Hansen & Søn. Photo courtesy of Carl Hansen.

Carl Hasen & Søn re-issued the breathtaking CH22 lounge chair by Hans J. Wegner. I want!! Photo courtesy of Carl Hansen.

The making of Kaare Klint’s historic Faaborg Chair, being hand woven in their original Copenhagen factory. Photo courtesy of Carl Hansen.

Rud Rasmussen’s Copenhagen showroom. Photo courtesy of Carl Hansen.

So many great tones and textures in Rud Rasmussen’s Copenhagen showroom. Photo courtesy of Carl Hansen.

There was also a bevy of great product launches on offer. Carl Hansen & Søn re-released Hans J. Wegner’s CH22 and CH26 chairs, along with a contemporary piece in collaboration with Austrian architects EOOS.

I was also told of the closing of the sister brand Rud Rassmussen’s factory in the heart of Copenhagen, the last one of its kind. Sad news, but the brand is staying in the Carl Hansen family at it’s Fynen factory in Denmark.

Frama impressed again, this time with a true coming out party as a full lifestyle brand. Launches on the day included a new Apothecary collection, the growing components to their free-standing kitchen furniture, and the opening of the Frama Studio Store with assistance from Studio 0405, open now in their sublime St. Paul’s space.

Frama returning the St. Pauls Apotek space back to its roots with their new Apothecary range in situ. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Studio 0405 gave Frama’s new Studio Store an elegant touch with concrete plinths and minimalistic interiors. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Frama’s new Apothecary range. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Frama Store. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.

Please Wait To Be Seated extended the Planet lighting range with this too cute table lamp designed by Mette Schelde. Photo courtesy of PWTBS.

The asymmetrical and colourful addition of the Wall Boxes designed by Ludvig Storm at Please Wait To Be Seated. Photo courtesy of PWTBS.

The Spade chair designed by the always-impressive Faye Toogood. Photo courtesy of PWTBS.

Please Wait to be Seated showroom. Photo courtesy of PWTBS.

Please Wait to be Seated opened their collaborative showroom space in Copenhagen’s historic old town with the release of the cute Planet Table Lamp, the playful Wall boxes, and the re-release of Faye Toogood’s Spade chair under the brands license.

Other highlights included Ferm Living’s amazing pop-up showroom in an disused electrical station in the city centre, the great mix of old and new at Atelier September’s new showroom run by designer Jonas Trampedach, and the increased inclusion of more up-and-coming exhibitions by Copenhagen’s plethora of new designers and creatives. A standout in this respect was the pink and yellow tones of Shapes on Stage’s exhibition Tråååd. Eye catching stuff.

The Atelier September Butik featured a demonstration of the process behind Jonas Trampedach’s anodized aluminium pieces. Photo by Nikolai Kotlarczyk.