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Home / Design Inspiration Abounds in Denmark
This blog post was written by Samantha Gotta, interior designer at Archideas in Chicago, Illinois, and winner of the Coalesse’s Carl Hansen & Son Blank Canvas Contest. Samantha’s design for the CH468 Oculus premium armchair earned her a trip to Denmark to visit Carl Hansen & Son as well as an Oculus chair upholstered in the fabric she designed. In this blog post, Samantha shares her experience.
My adventure started when we landed at the Copenhagen airport. I had no idea what to expect as it was my first time in Denmark. I had seen the city in movies and did my online research beforehand, but none of the Google images did it justice. The city felt magical, with its dark sky at mid-day, the abundance of candlelight, and the crisp, clean air. The Christmas trees were lit and the Christmas market was in full swing. On the first morning, I walked along the canal, bundled up from head-to toe, looking at all the hand-crafted garments from the vendors selling local goods of wool and fur.
The view along the canal
After taking a quick power nap, the group headed to Tivoli Gardens for lunch. Tivoli Gardens (or simply Tivoli) is a famous amusement park and garden in Copenhagen. It opened in 1843 and is the second-oldest amusement park in the world. During our stay, it was decorated for Christmas and felt like a movie set. Perhaps this is one of the reasons fairytale writers Hans Christian Andersen and Walt Disney frequently visited.
Shops inside Tivoli
At one point during lunch, I looked out the window to see little toy soldiers marching down the road. In reality, these were the Tivoli Boys Guard made up of 100 boys aged 8-16 who have passed their music schools’ entrance exams.
The Tivoli Boys Guard
On the second day, we took a tour of Rud Rasmussen, a furniture company that has been doing business since 1869. The company was purchased in 2011 by Carl Hansen & Son, but continues to exist as an independent brand. The production facility that we toured is 4 stories high and located in Norrebrogade.
David Obel Rosenkvist, CEO of Rud Rasmussen demonstrates the Propeller Stool, designed in 1930 by Kaare Klint. The stool is a frame with crossing propeller-shaped legs which, when folded, form a round stick.
David then showed us one of the 10 Kaare Klint Faaborg chairs made for its very special 100th anniversary. These 10 chairs will not be offered for sale. Instead, they'll travel as part of an international exhibition. Like the original, these special editions are crafted from burr wood, obtained from an elm that stood in Rud Rasmussen's back courtyard for a century and fell 25 years ago.
A close-up of burr wood at the factory, the French Rattan being woven for the seat of a Faaborg chair, and a completed chair. The average weaving time is 60 hours.
On the third day, we had some time to explore the city on our own. I learned that the Danish take pride in all details of design. Their craftsmanship does not stop with furniture. It’s in their chocolate, cheese, pastries, and even how food is plated in a restaurant.
On the left is a close-up of a Smorrebrod, a Danish open-faced sandwich. The middle image is a cheese display, and the image on the right is a display of chocolate.
On the last day, we drove to Aurap, Denmark, to tour the Carl Hansen & Son production facility where we met the owner, Knud Erik Hansen. With him, we drove to the second production facility in Gelstead. It was spectacular to get a tour from the owner himself. The pride of his establishment and every piece and component being manufactured was evident.
My favorite to see manufactured was Hans J. Wegner’s Oculus chair, better known in Denmark as the CH468.
A frame and arm of the Oculus chair and an Oculus chair being upholstered.
Close-up of under side of upholstered arms. Even when upholstered, the quality of wood is the same throughout the chair.
Scrap wood from the manufacturing process which is burned in an incinerator to generate heat for the factory.
Samantha Gotta in Copenhagen
I would like to thank the team at Coalesse for gifting me with such an amazing experience – especially Thomas Vagner and Melissa Shelton for being amazing hosts and Knud ErikHansen for inspiring me to follow my passion, in any way it may come.
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