Enter the Salon by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio.
Photo: Jonas Bjerre Poulsen
Shining a Light on Copenhagen: City’s Most Cutting-Edge Design on Display
The Danish capital's streets were abuzz with creativity as lighting and furniture took center stage during the 11th annual 3 Days of Design festival.
Copenhagen undergoes a stunning metamorphosis during its flagship 3 Days of Design festival each June. As the citywide fair’s 11th iteration unfolded, showrooms across the Danish capital transformed into launchpads for cutting-edge furniture and lighting, while design studios flung open their doors to offer a glimpse into the creative minds shaping the future.
Every corner becomes a stage, hosting captivating exhibitions and installations that blur the lines between art and everyday objects. A contagious energy fills the air, as both established and emerging talents showcase their work. Copenhagen’s streets themselves become an extension of the festival, buzzing with design enthusiasts and locals alike, all united in their appreciation for the power of design to transform the world around us.
Below, Galerie has rounded up some of the best launches during 3 Days of Design.
Finn Juhl’s Kettlehut Chair features a frame made of oak and walnut. Photo: House of Finn Juhl
1. House of Finn Juhl
Legendary Danish designer Finn Juhl—best known for his iconic Pelican Chair—sketched a wooden-framed chair with broad, embracing armrests and a dipped back in 1951. Known then as the SW86, the design was produced in Denmark but never made it to the United States, despite Juhl sending the drawing to American brand Baker Furniture. As fate would have it, Baker executive Mary Ellen Kettelhut inherited a watercolor of the SW86 and later provided it to the House of Finn Juhl, which promised to re-release the model as the Kettelhut Chair. The powerful yet unpretentious chair, crafted out of solid oak and walnut, made its debut during 3 Days of Design and is now available worldwide.
“Centuries,” the exhibition put on by Montana gallery Emerson Bailey during 3 Days of Design. Photo: Emerson Bailey
2. Emerson Bailey
Buzzy Montana gallery Emerson Bailey is celebrated for its expert curation that highlights the best of contemporary and vintage Scandinavian design. For its 3 Days of Design debut, the gallery took over a 19th century lodge in the heart of Copenhagen with an engaging exhibition called “Centuries,” which featured launches from regional brands including Näfveqvarn, TONI Copenhagen, Cappelen Dimyr, and Caia Leifsdotter in conversation with choice antiques that represent key moments from Scandinavian history. Among the most covetable debuts was a new lighting pendant from Swedish brand Sket called Puritan that features a bulbous shape inspired by traditional oil lamps.
The Dinesen Apartment by John Pawson in Copenhagen. Photo: Monica Steffensen
3. Dinesen x John Pawson
For 3 Days of Design, Danish brand Dinesen teamed up with one of today’s most esteemed architects to transform its Copenhagen showroom into the Dinesen Apartment by John Pawson. The award-winning British talent is a longtime collaborator of the brand, best known as a leader in wooden flooring. The presentation served as the official unveiling of the Made to Order Pawson Furniture Collection, which included a new lounge chair, lounge table, sofa, and daybed made from solid Douglas wood, as well as updates to Pawson’s Dining Series. “Creating this apartment for Dinesen, as the natural home for the furniture pieces I have designed, feels like a completion of the full circle,” said Pawson.
Pinch furnishings and accessories were installed at fashion boutique Mark Kenly Domino Tan (MKDT) Studio. Photo: Pinch
4. Pinch x MKDT
Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon’s design brand Pinch kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations at 3 Days of Design with a special installation at fashion boutique Mark Kenly Domino Tan (MKDT) Studio. On display was a slate of new seating designs, such as the ultra-plush Garagh armchair and sofa system, as well as core pieces such as the Moreau armchair, which features an undulating silhouette. Keep an eye out this fall as Pinch gears up for an exhibition in New York City, at downtown design space Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery.
The Blossi Table Mini, designed by Sofie Refer, is new from Nuura. Photo: Nuura
5. Nuura
Inspired by Nordic light and nature, Danish lighting brand Nuura is revered for its spellbinding lighting creations. This year, the company invited visitors to its opulent showroom to preview its latest launches, among them an adorable lamp called the Blossi Table Mini, designed by Sofie Refer as a portable version of her larger table lamp of the same name. Ideal for a dark corner, this dimmable, battery-powered accessory is also re-chargable and features a replaceable LED disc that reflects light within the acrylic shade, resulting in an ethereal glow. Also making its debut was a biophilic series called Florii by Jessica Vedel, who found inspiration from sunlight dancing through a forest canopy.
New glass vessels by Orrefors designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune. Photo: Orrefors
6. Orrefors
According to Swedish legend, placing seven distinct meadow flowers under your pillow on the eve of the summer solstice will bring you love and fortune. Inspired by that lore, renowned glass company Orrefors has released a series of mini vases designed by Claesson Koivisto Rune that create their own poetic garden. Each vessel is made of mouth-blown glass in a unique shape and colorway, and the series has already been given the coveted Red Dot Design Award.
Hem recently launched the Toto lamp, shown here with black stripes and a buttercup yellow shade. Photo: Giulio Ghirardi
7. Hem
Founded in 2014 by Petrus Palmér, Stockholm-based design brand Hem has quickly made a name for itself by teaming up with vanguard designers to create bold, thoughtful furnishings and home accessories For the newly unveiled Toto lamp, the company collaborated with Fabien Cappello, a designer based in London, to produce a cheerful illuminator sheathed totally in fabric, from its chunky circular base to angled shade. Available in three sizes starting August 15, the piece also comes in a variety of colors and patterns to ensure that it can fit in any style of interior.
Vipp’s installation during 3 Days of Design. Photo: VIPP
8. Vipp
To celebrate 85 years in business, Vipp put on a special showcase in its Copenhagen showroom, which is currently installed with the design brand’s swanky new V3 kitchen. The exhibition includes an interior completely transformed by designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard featuring bespoke works by Danish artist Kirstine Roepstorff, who took cues from Vipp’s humble origins making pedal bins for a hair salon to conjure her own creative interpretation of a hairdressing station. Best of all, the show is one of the rare installations up past the 3 Days of Design festival, with visitors being able to come by through September to see it in person.
Enter the Salon by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio. Photo: Jonas Bjerre Poulsen
9. Ladies and Gentlemen Studio x Kvadrat and Sahco
Beloved Brooklyn atelier Ladies & Gentlemen Studio traveled to Copenhagen to unveil a pair of new collections: Altostratus and Veil Tapestry, both realized in conjunction with Kvadrat and Sahco. Designed to showcase the versatility of the brands’ textiles, the ethereal lighting pieces were included in an exhibition called “Enter the Salon” at The Conary, a private members club set in a historic townhouse in central Copenhagen. “We really enjoyed the collaboration with Ladies & Gentlemen,” says Kvadrat’s Njusja de Gier. “Their inquisitive approach investigating how our textiles can diffuse light reminiscent of daylight filtering through clouds, resulting in tactile light installations, resonates well with our mission to continuously to push the boundaries of textile design and the way textiles can be used.”
The Settle sofa and lounge chair by Muuto. Photo: Muuto
10. Muuto
Indoors meets outdoors with the newest launch from Scandinavian brand Muuto, which launched its Settle sofa and lounge chair by longtime collaborators Anderssen & Voll during 3 Days of Design. Available in North America through DWR next spring, the upholstered pieces feature a tubular frame made of powder-coated steel as well as clever mahogany armrests perfect for a drink perch. Don’t be surprised when they start populating the most stylish patios and gardens next summer.
Cover: Enter the Salon by Ladies and Gentlemen Studio.
Photo: Jonas Bjerre Poulsen
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