Hagelund, Philipp von Hase, Sofie&Tiange, Aluminium & Stone by Ali Gallefoss, Aluminium explorations by Hydro, Stripes and textures by Gudrun

Historically, Birch has been the prime material for making furniture and tools in Norway, but over the last few decades, it has lost its standing and value in the oil-fuelled national economy. Today, only 2.4% of annual birch growth is harvested for industrial use. To renew interest in this traditional and sustainable material, Nils Stensrud is searching for a new language of forms. 

By recycling plastic from the local fish-farming industry, NCP creates products such as the S-1500 chair, initially designed by Bendt Winge in the late 1960s. In 2019, the S-1500 was redesigned by Snøhetta in collaboration with NCP. 

Stick is a simple, timeless coffee table in oak, aluminium and larvikite. The design builds on the idea of a round surface hovering between four thin sticks, which give it its name. The frame and tabletop are available in different finishes, with scope for various combinations of colours and materials. 

Textile company Gudrun is showcasing its first collection of pillows in renewable and natural wool. The series features decorative stripes and textures in a variety of pastel shades inspired by Norway’s late summer nights, beautiful sunsets and natural environment. Woven by artisan weavers in Innvik, Norway, Gudrun aims to create modern classics for everyday life which will last a lifetime.

Hylla – Norwegian for ‘shelf’ – is a free-standing storage module made of aluminium and ash. The design is rooted in Asian wood-jointing techniques and simple Scandinavian aesthetics, resulting in a shelf that can be mounted without using nails or screws.

NOK kitchen module by Hamran, Papirstein by Poppy Lawman, S-1500 chair by NCP, Stones collection by Volver, Leaf floor lamp by Sofie&Tiange and Pedestal by Vilde Hagelund

Inspired by Norwegian nature and fairy-tale creatures, Aluminium & Stone are objects anchored in experimentation and collaboration. Pieces of stone are cast in the metal, – an exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of the two materials. 

Showcasing at Norwegian Presence for the first time, Volver presents two collections of hand-tufted rugs, based on undyed natural wool. The Kanvas collection by Kristine Bjaadal consists of three rug designs, based on the designer’s watercolour and ink drawings. The rugs are hand-tufted both in natural undyed wool and colourful silky Tencel. 

Finally, after delays due to Covid-19, the Bambi 56 lounge chair is at last available to customers, a year after its digital launch at Norwegian Presence 2020. The Bambi chair collection was designed by architect firm Rastad & Relling back in 1955 but remains highly relevant today. This relaunch is a collaborative project with Utopia Retro Modern, Norway’s specialist vintage design store.

Plesner Patterns’ designs are inspired by everyday events, preserving and amplifying seemingly unimportant moments. Norwegian Presence 2021 presents a selection of products, including the latest collection, Mindtravel, which invites the viewer to let their thoughts fly and explore a different state of mind – valuable in the age of Covid, when physical travel is prevented.