2024.06.24
3 Days of Design: 8 highlights that had us dreaming
3 Days of Design:
8 highlights that had us dreaming
DESIGN
3 Days of Design 2024 took Copenhagen by storm from 12-14 June, expanding its reach with over 450 exhibitors, a significant increase from the previous year. This year’s theme, Dare to Dream, invited attendees to explore bold visions and innovative concepts across the city. The event's growth has added a new layer of dynamism to its traditionally intimate atmosphere.
Despite its rapidly expanded size, 3 Days of Design maintained its spirit of creativity and innovation for the most part. The city buzzed with visionary exhibitions, reimagined classics and new launches. Each installation invited us to dream, sparking thoughts of future possibilities and distant places. As we explored, certain exhibitions, brands and products stood out, capturing our imaginations and challenging our perspectives. Here are the highlights that captivated us and left a lasting impression.
WORDS
Micha van Dinther
Rue Verte
Danish retailer and interior design studio Rue Verte transformed its space for an exhibition featuring several brands and artists. In Rue Verte's signature monochrome and austere setting, Faye Toogood’s Gummy chair and Palette tables were on display, yet it was her vibrant wall installation of colourful drawings and paintings that truly captivated us, bringing an unexpected feeling of freshness and creativity. Collection Particulière's Natural Disco collection drew inspiration from materials, nature and the night; Meridiani added elegance with snow-white sofas and cold marble pieces; and Destroyers/Builders showcased Linde Freya Tangelder's sculptural works, highlighting her use of diverse materials and textures. Rue Verte also showcased its own Rue Verte Design collection, featuring bespoke, made-to-measure pieces crafted by local artisans.
Resilience
In Resilience, the works by Columbian designer Natalia Criado, Danish architect and desinger Danielle Siggerud, Danish artist and actor Susanne Storm and Danish rug studio Knothouse were brought together. The exhibition, hosted by Knothouse, highlighted the theme of resilience through diverse materials – wool, wood, metal and concrete. Criado's mesmerising works stood out, bringing a touch of whimsy to the otherwise muted and down-to-earth setting. Now based in Milan, Criado combines contemporary design with traditional craftsmanship, creating enchanting tableware and kitchen accessories. Siggerud showcased a series of new tables, Storm presented hand-sculpted concrete works blending durability with an airy aesthetic, and Knothouse displayed meticulously hand-knotted rugs of Tibetan wool and Mulberry silk.
PHOTOGRAPHY Isolée Creative and Andrea Riva
Vandra
Vandra showcased captivating new carpets, featuring designs by Maja Johansson Starander, Lars Nilsson and most notably, Ami Katz with her Seasons tapestry collection. Inspired by the vibrant colours and mythical creatures of the changing seasons, Katz’s tapestry rugs bring the beauty of nature indoors. Each piece, based on years of watercolour sketching, captures the essence of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Vandra is dedicated to social and environmental responsibility. Their weaving atelier in southern Ukraine employs and empowers women, fostering job opportunities and skill development. The brand minimises environmental impact by producing made-to-order rugs and using high-quality, sustainable materials, including non-dyed, non-coloured and recycled options.
Enter The Salon
Stepping into a Japandi dream, The Conary – a historic Danish townhouse – hosted Enter The Salon during 3 Days of Design, showcasing seven global brands. This unique exhibition, curated by Signe Hytte Studio, transformed the space into a blend of past and present. Karimoku Case, in collaboration with Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa, presented its Case collections. August Sandgren displayed their exquisite storage solutions, while Ambientec showcased innovative lighting pieces. Carpe Diem Beds featured comfortable bed designs and Ladies & Gentlemen offered their distinct, playful furniture and decor. Origin Made presented artisanal pieces with a modern twist, and Silkeborg Ulrich brought their high-quality wool textiles. The Conary, built in 1797, was styled as a private residence, with items from each brand displayed throughout a series of rooms mimicking a home – not a new idea in itself, but one executed thoughtfully and cohesively.
Centuries
Within an inner-city building covered in scaffolding, Centuries, by design and antiques studio Emerson Bailey, presented a journey through Scandinavian design from the 18th century to today. The historic venue, once a lodge for Danish craftsmen and now an active construction site frequented by workers in hardhats, provided an unexpected yet fitting setting that highlighted the seamless blend of historic and modern pieces with great finesse. Curated by founder Susan Weiss and Swedish antiques dealer Daniel Larsson, the exhibition featured new works like Sekt’s Duo Pendant, inspired by traditional oil lamps, Näfveqvarn’s historic table by Folke Bensow, Toni Copenhagen’s brass fixtures and Cappelen Dimyr’s handwoven rugs. Contemporary pieces by Caia Leifsdotter, including the Psychedelic Mirror and Root sculptures, added a modern touch. In the adjacent hall, Belgian artist Gerard Kuijpers’ mind-bending, gravity-defying works fascinated us.
PHOTOGRAPHY Fanny Rådvik
Massproductions
That the devil is in the details is evident in Massproductions’ latest piece, Woodwerk, designed by Chris Martin. We are intrigued by the twisted detail of this chair, which cleverly combines rounded backrests with strict geometric forms—an uncommon feat in wooden furniture. The unique rotation ensures both comfort and a striking design element, seamlessly uniting the chair’s wooden components in a surprising way. Crafted entirely from solid beech using 5-axis CNC machines, the Woodwerk chair showcases a perfect blend of craftsmanship and modern technology. Massproductions’ exhibition also featured the nostalgic MMMTV installation, inspired by 1990s TV culture, inviting visitors to relax in the Patch sofa and enjoy a VHS-based experience.
Danish Art Workshops
The Danish Art Workshops – Statens Værksteder for Kunst – opened its doors for the first time during 3 Days of Design, presenting a joint exhibition in Denmark’s largest art production residency. Scattered throughout the expansive space, the works of 16 talented artists and designers captivated visitors, showcasing the innovative spirit nurtured within these workshops. Curated by Danish artist and designer Birgitte Due Madsen, the exhibition highlighted the diverse range of projects developed in-house. The space buzzed with creativity, featuring standout works by Brandhøj & Fensholt, Anne Bjørn, Rasmus Fenhann and George Koutsouris. Adding to the immersive experience, a captivating scent by Emmanuel Martini enveloped the space.
PHOTOGRAPHY Filip Gielda
Danish Art Workshops
The Danish Art Workshops – Statens Værksteder for Kunst – opened its doors for the first time during 3 Days of Design, presenting a joint exhibition in Denmark’s largest art production residency. Scattered throughout the expansive space, the works of 16 talented artists and designers captivated visitors, showcasing the innovative spirit nurtured within these workshops. Curated by Danish artist and designer Birgitte Due Madsen, the exhibition highlighted the diverse range of projects developed in-house. The space buzzed with creativity, featuring standout works by Brandhøj & Fensholt, Anne Bjørn, Rasmus Fenhann and George Koutsouris. Adding to the immersive experience, a captivating scent by Emmanuel Martini enveloped the space.
PHOTOGRAPHY Filip Gielda
The Grand Suite
It’s impossible not to be drawn into glass artist Helle Mardahl’s colourful and organically shaped universe. For 3 Days of Design, Mardahl presented The Grand Suite, an installation that offers a peek into a parallel world of secrets and untold stories. The space celebrates solitude through enchanting lights, shadows and sounds, inviting us to experience the life of an adventurous traveler in a luxurious grand suite. Blurring the lines between design and scenography, the apartment transforms into a stage where imagination could run wild.
SUGGESTIONS