Founded in Denmark in 1872, furniture company Fritz Hansen has a long-running history of collaborating with world-renowned designers and tastemakers to realise visionary concepts. This tradition has seen classics old and new born from partnerships with homegrown Danish designers Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner, Kasper Salto and Cecilie Manz. Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon and Italian architect Piero Lissoni have also worked with the furniture house.
The latest creative to align with the heritage brand is Italian gallerist and design curator Carla Sozzani who, in her role as co-creator for the season, was tasked with reimagining three of Arne Jacobsen’s iconic stackable chairs. “My love story with Jacobsen chairs goes back a long time ago,” says Carla. “They are very sensual forms.”
In the past, Jacobsen himself was responsible for the colour concepts. His mentee Verner Panton had also been invited by Fritz Hansen to guide the colour direction of Jacobsen’s furniture pieces.
The union between Fritz Hansen and Carla Sozzani brings to life A Sense of Colour, a versatile mix-and-match collection which sees 16 new colours applied to the lacquered ash seats of Jacobsen’s ‘Series 7’, ‘Ant’ and ‘Grand Prix’ chairs. The colours are grouped into five themes: A Touch of Red, A Taste of Pink, A Scent of Green, A Note of Blue and A Glimpse of Yellow.
Developed in close partnership with Fritz Hansen’s head of design, Christian Andresen, the harmonious group of seat colours can be customised with chair bases available in seven different finishes, from chrome and bronze to black and white.
Instantly recognisable for their seductive silhouettes, the plywood chairs were originally conceived by Jacobsen between 1952 and 1957. Fritz Hansen still manufactures the chairs to much adoration and, united with Carla’s vision, anticipate that the fresh colour palette will allow buyers a greater sense of individual expression when selecting the chairs for residential and commercial interiors.
“We believe that nothing beats truly great design,” says a statement from Fritz Hansen. “Design that, beyond function and form, serves a bigger purpose by colouring our homes and everyday lives. Quite literally.”
fritzhansen.com; cultdesign.com.au
My love story with Jacobsen chairs goes back a long time ago … They are very sensual forms.
