Homes: Nordic nous
Why are we all so in love with Scandinavian design?
Normann Copenhagen's Kontur vase is just one example of the wave of Scandinavian design currently hitting the British high street.
Hygge – what a word. A Danish concept, adopted from a Norwegian word that translates roughly as "wellbeing" but infers so much more, it embraces all things simple, warm, cosy, calm and comforting. And it's the hygge-factor – pronounced "hoo-ga" while making the mouth-shape for "ee" (I know, I know) – that may explain why we are so in love with Scandinavian design. Because we are, in case you hadn't noticed. Mid-century modern Danish teak is selling like hot cakes; the high street is in the grip of Scandinavian fever; and you can't open a lifestyle magazine without an Alvar Aalto 60 stool, Arne Jacobsen flatware or a Louis Poulsen lamp featuring somewhere. It's simply accepted that this part of the world knows how to make good products, and knows how to make them last, too. But why? What, exactly, do they do so well? The Nordic countries – Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland – have an unpretentious approach to design, in contrast with that often elitist world. Furniture is clean-lined and useful, made from often plain, natural materials such as bare wood, sheepskin, leather and wool. Design, in the Scandinavian tradition, provides emotional comfort and enriches daily living. It is not about style over substance, or status symbols – in fact, distaste for showiness is palpable. The style has its origins in Lutheranism, a religion that stresses truth, reason and honest work. It mixes practicality and traditional craftsmanship with a closeness to nature and a talent for infusing everything with light (the region's endless dark winters might have something to do with that). In 1919, Gregor Paulsson, then director of the Swedish Design Council, put it nicely: he admired products that "lend grace to the chore of life". Alongside the greats – Aalto, Jacobsen, Poulsen, Finn Juhl, Georg Jensen, Nanna Ditzel and Marimekko – is a new generation of designers, many of whom are appearing at the London Design Festival next week: porcelain designers Wik & Walsoe, and young designers Ida Noemi and Vibeke Skar, both at 100% Norway; and Swedish designers Claesson Koivisto Rune at Skandium (the store is also opening a new showroom with Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen). Two events are showcasing new work from Swedish designers: Ung8 at Designers Block, and Hemma. And Danish furniture brand Hay is opening a pop-up shop in Covent Garden for four months. On the high street, BHS is launching lightshades in wood, reminiscent of Finnish company, Secto – though at a fifth of the price. John Lewis is introducing a range of pieces, including wooden accessories, with a pared-back, Scandinavian feel. B&Q has a new Nordic-style wood-and-white table lamp, Noorland; Ikea is launching its curvy Isala furniture range, inspired by vintage Swedish furniture; and Heal's is launching a range of Scandinavian-influenced furniture and accessories, including sofas upholstered in Marimekko fabric. It's all very appealing. Perhaps the more uncertain the world looks, the more we want to surround ourselves with comforting, safe and homely products. Hygge, in other words.
