Dezeen Magazine

Konstantin Grcic at Stockholm Furniture Fair

Konstantin Grcic at Stockholm Furniture Fair

Stockholm Furniture Fair presents images of Konstantin Grcic's installation at the fair's entrance hall.

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Grcic - appointed the fair's Guest of Honour 2007 - has created an artificial garden at the show, held at the Stockholm International Fairs exhibition centre.

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The Stockholm Furniture Fair opened on 7 February and ends today.

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The installation features many of the Munich-based designer's own furniture and lighting products.

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Photos are by Magnus Skoglöf. More images from the fair coming soon...

Below is a statement from Stockholm Furniture Fair about Grcic and the installation:furn2007-0009pv.jpg
Below is a statement from Stockholm Furniture Fair about Grcic and the installation:

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German industrial and furniture designer Konstantin Grcic is this year's Guest of Honour at the Stockholm Furniture Fair. In Stockholm International Fairs' entrance hall, Konstantin Grcic creates an artificial garden as a place to rest, meet and listen.

Since 1991, when he set up Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design (KGID), Konstantin Grcic, 42, has developed furniture, lighting and other products for some of Europe's biggest design houses, including Agape, Driade, Flos, Iittala, Krups, Lamy, Magis, Moroso and Muji. Grcic's design is often described as pared down, simple and minimalist. What sets him apart from other minimalists is that he defines function in human terms by combining the strictly formal with mental stringency and humour.

"We are very pleased to be welcoming Konstantin Grcic here. He is the fourth international designer we have invited to create a lounge. Grcic is highly regarded and what he produces is always at the cutting edge," comments Cecilia Nyberg, acting project manager of the Stockholm Furniture Fair.

Many of Grcic's products have received prestigious accolades. The Mayday-lamp produced by Flos was selected into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and won the Compasso D ´Oro in 2001. The German magazine Arkitetur & Wohnen appointed Grcic "Architect of the Year" 2007 and he has also been invited by NOW- the design section of Maison & Objets as best designer 2007. KGID is currently working on projects such as a new range of kitchen appliances for Krups and stationary equipment for Muji.

Konstantin Grcic's lounge in Stockholm International Fairs' entrance hall will offer visitors a moment of tranquillity in a warm and satisfying setting. This usually cold and hard area has led him to adopt a very special approach to staging, creating an artificial garden. Using plants, textiles and a surprising mix of objects and furniture, he will be creating an environment in which to rest, meet and listen.

"The sensation of living plants in this installation is a new element for me to work with. The plants will create a living oasis in the middle of the busy crowd," explains Grcic.

"The collaboration with Konstantin has been and is an exciting balance of positive surprises and playfulness. Konstantin's impressive track record in product and furniture design is reflected in the lounge, which can be summed up as a mix of a magical glimpse into a forest and Mary Poppins," concludes Caroline Heiroth, architect on location.

In previous the lounge in Stockholm International Fairs' entrance hall has been created by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and the Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa.