The research-based design studio Formafantasma, one of the most sought-after in the design world today, comes to Stockholm Furniture Fair in February as its Guest of Honour. Using design as an agent for social and environmental change, the studio takes a holistic perspective on design to explore its transformative potential.
Photo: Gregorio Gonella
– To work as a designer today goes way beyond thinking about the product. That is of course important, but it’s just as important to rethink the way we produce things, says Andrea Trimarchi who founded the studio in 2009 together with Simone Farresin.
As Guest of Honour, Formafantasma will create an installation in the Entrance Hall for visitors and exhibitors. And for once it’s not products that will take center stage, but transformative knowledge, ideas and visions for the future. The installation is called Reading Room, and inside visitors will find a calm space to sit for a moment and read, reflect and immerse themselves in the ideas that have shaped Formafantasma’s work.
– A fair is a place where people gather to see new products. But it is also a platform for exchanging ideas and for cultures to meet. We wanted to do something that wasn’t just about displaying our own previous work, but rather offer something in line with our way of thinking and working that is also relevant for others, says Andrea Trimarchi.
– We are very excited about Reading Room, says Hanna Nova Beatrice, Director of Stockholm Furniture Fair. I also want to draw attention to the spatial design by Formafantasma, which is a great example of how you can create a beautiful, temporary construction and experience, using a minimum of resources.
The installation is furnished with seating and tables from Artek, lighting from Flos and textiles from Maharam. On the tables, Reading Room will offer a curated selection of books about sustainability, ecology and ecosystems, especially forests. There will also be screens displaying video works by Formafantasma.
– In a way it’s a bibliography on our way of thinking related to ecology. Our aim is to make people engage with ecology, not on the level of product but on a systemic level. When we talk about furniture design we implicitly talk about wood, and if we talk about wood we need to talk about forests. We want people to connect the product to the ecosystem from which it originates and talk about the possibilities in this, but also the problems, says Andrea Trimarchi.
Along with this line of thinking, the installation itself is designed with as much thought and care put into what will happen to it afterwards as to how it will fulfil its purpose during the Stockholm Furniture Fair. When the fair is over, the books will be donated to design schools. The seating and tables will be re-sold as signed pieces at Nordiska Galleriet.
– The major challenge for the furniture industry today is to rethink how we produce products, and I think designers can help this process. In a way, the work that we will display in the installation is related to this. It’s a recent collaboration with Artek, an example of a way of working that is not only product oriented but also about establishing a conversation about sourcing and production. I think this is the future of design.
On the opening day of Stockholm Furniture Fair, February 6, Formafantasma will give a Guest of Honour talk, co-hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm.
Stockholm Furniture Fair 2024 will take place 6-10 February 2024.
News from Stockholm Furniture Fair 2023:
Ronja is a chair that comes directly from the beech forests of southern Sweden by David Ericsson – Gärsnäs
RONJA CHAIR Ronja is a chair that comes directly from the beech forests of southern …
The winners of Scandinavian Design Awards 2023
We are happy to announce the winners of the newly established Scandinavian Design Awards, selected …
Gärsnäs @ Stockholm Furniture Fair & Stockholm Design Week
In a troubled world, there remains many good and vital things to talk about: sustainability, …
Greenhouse Bar by Nola @ Stockholm Furniture Fair
After a three-year break, the Stockholm Furniture Fair is back again. Nola is back too, …
Swedish Design Movements @ Stockholm Furniture Fair
A meeting place for design that drives sustainable change Swedish Design Movement brings together actors …
Design & Architecture Talks @ Stockholm Furniture Fair
Stockholm Furniture Fair Talks In February Stockholm Furniture Fair welcomes visitors to a dedicated program …
Underbar by Jonas Bohlin and Christine Ingridsdotter @ Stockholm Furniture Fair
For Stockholm Furniture Fair 2023, Swedish designer and interior architect Jonas Bohlin has designed the …
Scandinavian Design Awards – celebrating the best design and architecture in Scandinavia
The Scandinavian Design Awards will be launched in 2023. This new initiative aims to recognise …
The Greenhouse Jury 2023
The purpose of Greenhouse is to create opportunities for exciting meetings and fruitful business collaborations …
Furniture inspired by space research and influences from sneaker culture — the 2023 Greenhouse is playful and exploratory
Greenhouse, the international platform for up-and-coming young designers at Stockholm Furniture Fair, acts as a …
The countdown to Stockholm Furniture Fair has begun
Stockholm Furniture Fair kicks off the 2023 design year with a busy fair expected to …
Stockholm Furniture Fair presents a new agenda for 2023
During the inauguration of Stockholm Design Week in September several news for the forthcoming Stockholm …
The Stockholm Design Week exhibition Moving Forward highlights new tendencies in Scandinavian design
This September the official Stockholm Design Week returned for the first time since the onset …
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair decides to focus on February 2023
Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair has decided to cancel the postponed fair in September. The …