Dezeen Magazine

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair 2021

Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair announces pared-back "Nude Edition" for February 2021

The organisers of Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair have unveiled plans for a more affordable and sustainable version for next year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 71st edition of the Scandinavia's largest design fair will be labelled The Nude Edition, with exhibitors encouraged to present less extravagant stands.

Taking place from 9 to 13 February 2021, the fair will allow firms to participate on a lower budget than previous years.

2021 fair "first step towards a sustainable transition"

"The new concept has been formed to support companies that have been hit hard financially by Covid-19 and its effects on society," organisers said. The fair will be supplemented with digital content.

"Many companies have already been hit hard financially by Covid-19 and we don't know how long this will last, which means that the need to meet and do business is greater than ever," said Sanna Gebeyehu, product and concept owner at Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair.

Vestre Stand by Note Design Studio
Note Design's stand for Vestre won the best stand award at this year's fair (above), while Fredrik Paulsen created the Design Bar (top)

"For the upcoming edition, we have developed a concept for all exhibitors to think about downscaling when it comes to building stands," she added.

"Our ambition is for The Nude Edition to be a first step towards a sustainable transition in the industry."

The fair, which takes place at the Stockholmsmässan exhibition centre on the outskirts of the Swedish capital, usually features 60-700 exhibitors and attracts around 40,000 visitors, of which 30 per cent are from overseas.

"The purpose is to cut costs for exhibitors"

It is traditionally held alongside Stockholm Design Week, which features exhibitions and events around the city.

The 2021 edition will be presented in collaboration with the Swedish Federation of Wood and Furniture Industry (TMF).

The fair will still feature open, purpose-built stands, but these will conform to new safety regulations being drawn up by Folkhälsomyndigheten, the Swedish public health agency.

Snarkitecture designed a multi-room stand for Bolon at this year's fair

"There will be room for a lot of variations with the products being in focus," said Cecilia Nyberg, the fair's project area manager.

"The purpose is to cut costs for exhibitors, and make it possible to carry out the fair in light of the increased need for safety in accordance with Folkhälsomyndigheten's recommendations."

Dezeen was media partner for this year's Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, live streaming talks including a conversation with guests of honour Doshi Levien and a lecture by interior architect Sevil Peach.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation or postponement of almost all the major architecture and design events in 2020, including Milan's giant Salone del Mobile and the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Visit Dezeen Events Guide for more details of upcoming architecture and design events, including an updated list of events impacted by coronavirus.

Main photo is by Jonas Lindström.