Scandinavian design in a few key concepts
Scandinavian design is first of all characterized by the importance of craftsmanship. The Scandinavian countries having experienced a rather late industrialization, the traditional craft did not lose its importance when the design took off. Thus, manual know-how and direct contact with materials have fed the imagination of designers. In Nordic interiors, the search for style and innovation is always done in relation to nature. This can be seen in the striking contrasts between abstract and organic forms, as well as in the texture of surfaces, alternating between hardness and softness. The presence of natural elements is accompanied by a great consideration for the environment, and materials are chosen not only for their aesthetics, but also for their resistance, durability, and origin. While wood is omnipresent, stone, leather and hemp are also used sparingly in most interiors.
The climatic requirements determine the Scandinavian design, because obviously, we do not design in the same way if we live in the tropics or in the Far North. Homes should not only offer physical protection to their occupants, but also moral protection. To enter a Swedish house is to enter a haven of peace that invites well-being. Unlike the austere traditions of other northern countries, such as the Bauhaus and its industrial universe, Scandinavian design is all about delicacy. The woods used have warm tones, the carpets are soft and the pastel color palettes are in the spotlight. The organic shapes immediately put you at ease and the furniture follows the shape of the body to create a universe where human warmth and the elements of nature blend harmoniously.
Finally, despite its apparent generosity, Scandinavian design remains attached to the primary criterion of utility. Design is not only a way to decorate or to style, but a way to improve the daily life of all citizens, whether they are rich or modest. Above all, Nordic design seeks to fulfill the moral duty to find answers to real social needs and to give everyone an equal place. In order to fulfill this mission, designers focused on creating furniture, lighting, accessories and everyday utilitarian objects, such as dishes, kitchen utensils and linens. Moreover, since the dominant religion (Lutheranism) insists on personal morality, sobriety and simplicity, pure forms are honored and the spectacular never has its place. Thus, the design of the Nordic countries is the perfect reflection of the dominant moral, political and social climate.
The emergence of Swedish design
In the 1830s, Sweden was influenced by the German Biedermeier style of simplicity and modesty. However, from the 1850s onwards, there was a revival, characterised by a mixture of different influences, ranging from Gothic to Baroque to Rococo. This eclecticism led to the formation in 1845 of the Svenska Slöjdföreningen (Swedish Society for Art and Industrial Design), the world's first association of designers. The idea of the association was to improve handicrafts by encouraging cooperation between different artistic forces. Svenska Slöjdföreningen sees design as a catalyst for social change.
Ellen Key and the Larsson couple
Leading figures of the late nineteenth century, Carl (1853-1919) and Karin Larsson (1859-1928) furnished and decorated their house in Sundborn in an unpretentious style, mixing peasant culture and the sweet dream of a country house. Their creations are distinguished by a rejection of industrial society, reflecting a more general trend at work in the country. The series of watercolors painted by Carl Larsson depicting the couple's home helped spread this new aesthetic, and all of these drawings were reproduced in the album Ett Hem in 1899.
In turn, these images inspired the Swedish feminist writer Ellen Key (1849-1926) to write the pamphlet Skönhet för alla (Beauty for All, 1899). Key puts forward the idea that by raising the taste of consumers and developing their aesthetic perception, the possibility of bringing about a profound social transformation opens up. She emphasizes that the beautification of the home can be achieved by turning to simpler designs, some derived from early Swedish architecture, some from craft traditions, some from mechanical production, and some from nature itself. She asserts that a beautiful environment contributes to well-being and harmony.
A gentle but noticeable entry into modernity
In order to encourage the creation of good quality and cheap objects and to improve the capacity of Swedish design, Svenska Slöjdföreningen created in 1915 an agency facilitating contacts between designers and manufacturers. Despite this effort, the objects created were not very successful and did not reach the working class for whom they were intended. It is not only the price, but also the connotation of these objects as "simple" - and therefore inferior - that affects sales. It was not until the interwar period that the idea that simplicity was also a principle of beauty took hold.
In the 1920s, many Swedish designers left to study in Paris or Berlin, bringing back in their suitcases very avant-garde ideas that easily found their place in a modernizing Sweden. Modernism and traditional ideas were mixed for two decades, resulting in designs that combined neo-classicism and modernism. The influence of the social democrats in the 1940s changed the situation somewhat, since prosperity and the distribution of goods were now the main concerns. Thus, social equality became the official doctrine in design and this art was seen as a tool for social change rather than an exercise in aesthetics.
The aesthetics of this period will therefore be entirely dominated by utility and practicality, and metal furniture is in the spotlight. This cold and sterile fashion was called "Funkis", or functionalism. In 1930, the Stockholm Exhibition, directed by Gregor Paulsson, will have a great influence in the world. A utopian socialist vision of society emerged through the exhibition of model apartments for low-income families. The co-director of the event, the great architect Erik Gunnar Asplund (1885-1940), represented the Scandinavian Funkis with his famous glass and steel exhibition pavilion.
After the Second World War, Swedish design returned to a warmer aesthetic, although still marked by the egalitarian ideal. Swedish design appeared as an alternative to the fascist design of the Nazi era, embodying democracy, the importance of nature, and minimalism. Focused on intimacy, the home and harmony within the family, this peaceful model appealed to a world in search of peace. The "Design in Scandinavia" exhibition, which toured 24 American and Canadian cities between 1954 and 1957, made the Nordic aesthetic more widely known. The fabulous rise of Swedish design then took place, and many iconic creations were born.
Ikea or Swedish design for everyone
Created in 1943 by the Swedish Ingvar Kamprad (who was only 17 years old at the time!), Ikea is the very representation of the values of Swedish design. This company, known all over the world today, has taken the rules of Nordic design literally: aesthetics, accessibility and simplicity. By making a name for itself with legendary models such as the BILLY and POÄNG bookcases, the Swedish chain has exported the spirit of affordable Swedish design around the world. Many of its flagship products are based on designs by leading Swedish designers, and basic materials such as wood are ubiquitous. By developing stores that promise a true consumer experience - from restaurants to children's daycare to the famous 1 euro hot dogs - Ikea has shown that it is possible to interest even the most modest of people in the elegant charms of Swedish design.
If you want to see, know or have more, what can you do?
If you want to learn more about Swedish design, the best place to go is the Swedish Center for Architecture and Design (known as ArkDes) on Skeppsholmen Island in Stockholm, next to the Museum of Modern Art(Moderna Museet). This center has a permanent exhibition, presenting Swedish architecture through the ages in the form of drawings, photographs and historical objects, as well as several temporary thematic exhibitions. In addition, the ArkDes archive contains the drawings and models of over 500 architects!
If you're visiting Stockholm, you can also visit Designtorget, which showcases new Swedish designers and their creations, and Nordiska Galleriet (on Nybrogatan Avenue), which sells furniture and lighting by Nordic and international designers. For more stylish and bold home décor, visit the legendary Swedish home décor store, Svenskt Tenn.
In Gothenburg, visit the famous design store Artilleriet, which has beautiful exhibitions to inspire customers. A little further on, you'll find Norrgavel, an interior design store that sells remarkable furniture that is both delicate and durable. You also go to Rum 21, one of the largest online home decor stores in the Nordic region, which has a physical store in central Gothenburg.
