Furniture of the Year 1999
– simplicity itself
Åke Axelsson, one of Sweden’s most sought-after interior designers and creator of hundreds of chairs, receives Sköna hem’s award Furniture of the Year 1999 for a perfected piece of furniture in a sparse genre, the Anselm chair.
Like a lifelong love, Åke Axelsson describes his relationship with chairs. And there have been quite a few over the years. Between 250 and 300 pieces, he usually says.
“Anselm is simplicity itself,” motivates Sköna hem’s jury in their choice, “a typical representative of the late 20th century but with a boldness that carries into a new century. A perfected piece of furniture in its sparse genre.”
The material is standard plywood with a frame in painted beech.
The chair has its name from architect Klas Anselm (1924-80), who belongs to the renewers within Swedish modernism. He designed the Art Hall in Malmö in the 1960s and when it was to be expanded a few years ago, Åke Axelsson was engaged for the new interior. He also got the opportunity to exhibit his chairs in the new hall and for this occasion Åke designed the austere winner.
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The Art Hall was designed in a simple, self-evident spirit without exaggerations and I wanted my chair to have the same radiance – simple, self-evident and without exaggerations.
Åke Axelsson is today the country’s most established and recognized furniture designer, with the title of professor and the most prestigious interior design commissions to his name. For 12 years he has run Gallery Stolen in Stockholm and the furniture is now manufactured at two of his own factories in Småland. A challenge that pleases him right now is the interior design for the conversation room at Stockholm Palace, which was the Swedish people’s gift to the king on the 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
The character should be light and airy, inspired by the Swedish summer. Carl XVI Gustaf’s jubilee room will be inaugurated after the summer.
Furniture of the Year is Sköna hem’s award for good and innovative furniture design. The jury has included interior architect Gunilla Allard, acting rector at Konstfack Love Arbén, architect Thomas Sandell, glass designer Carina Seth Andersson as well as Dan Gordan from the editorial staff.
The award, a diploma designed by graphic designer Susanne Engman, is presented at a ceremony at the furniture fair now in February.
Image: Åke Axelsson with Furniture of the Year, the Anselm chair. Those who insist can get it without holes and with armrests. Producer is Gallery Stolen.
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