Fritz Hansen Presents the After Series by Michael Anastassiades

Fritz Hansen has unveiled After, a new chair and table series by acclaimed designer Michael Anastassiades. Defined by geometric clarity, subtle gestures, and immaculate execution, the collection bridges the Danish brand’s 153-year heritage with a modern design language.

Named After, as a reference to the design approach, the series introduces a more modern design language to the Fritz Hansen collection, yet with a sense of continuity from its heritage lineage. The collaboration marks Anastassiades’ first with Fritz Hansen, though the London-based Cypriot's long-standing admiration for Danish design is central to the series. Drawing on the brand’s archives and ethos of collective contribution, he distilled traditional archetypes into his own pared-down expression.

The result is a chair that clearly bears Anastassiades’ signature while echoing the legacy of Danish masters such as Kaare Klint and Poul Kjærholm. The round dining table echoes the clarity and play on geometry in a sturdier form. Their honesty, purity and materiality, a testament to the technical prowess and craftsmanship of Fritz Hansen. “My approach is based around the idea of collective contribution, building on the Danish design heritage and bringing my own layer of simplification and thinking,” Anastassiades explains. “There is a lot of clarity in shapes and forms and why they need to be there, they are very considered and geometric, primal in a way.”

The After chair is conceived as a precise interplay of stacked elements: a curved backrest resting on square legs, which hold a gently scooped plywood seat. The joins are matched to the millimetre, an exactitude achieved through a traditional cabinetmaking technique used for the backrest, in which a piece of wood is sliced into sheets, glued back together in identical sequence and pressed into a curved shape. “The joinery has to be so good, so stable, and there needs to be a level of comfort,” Anastassiades says. “The curved backrest has to be so precise to the millimetre… All these details matter. They are really subtle gestures that make the chair.”

This sense of stacked layers and contrasting geometry is repeated in the After dining table. The round tabletop appears to float on cross-shaped legs, their chunky rounded edges aligning them to and distinguishing them from the chair. Two distinct finishes offer contrasting characters: Ash with a hard wax oil that highlights the natural elegance of the grain, and Burgundy lazur, a rich hue reminiscent of darker wood tones or the patina of aged brass that Anastassiades uses in his lighting designs. A burgundy version with a Rosso Levanto marble top pushes the series into another realm, contrasting the monumental materiality of the wine-red stone with the tactility of the wooden legs. Thin cushions, in nature or burgundy Pure leather, further refine comfort.

Anastassiades describes the process with Fritz Hansen — which involves workshops with the brand’s creative director and furniture makers to develop the final product — as slow, methodical and collaborative. “Their knowledge is so fundamental in the process. It is a very different approach than any of the other brands I have worked with,” he says. “A part of the aesthetic is how you work with the limitations of the wood and find innovative ways of solving the problem that are not going to compromise the design. I’m very happy with the result; the execution, the quality and the detail are very good. It is such a simple design but it is immaculately manufactured."

For Fritz Hansen’s Creative Director Els Van Hoorebeeck, the After series encapsulates the brand’s philosophy of design being an evolution, not revolution. “In ash you get Fritz Hansen the manufacturer – the details, the immaculate delivery, the comfort maximised for the chair without losing the aesthetic purity. Whereas the burgundy and marble table feels as if it has landed exactly where the brand is at from a design perspective.”

Van Hoorebeeck adds: “The After series emphasises where we come from, how we work with our heritage, and at the same time shows a preview of what is ahead. It is a really nice link between the past, present and the future.”

The After series launches worldwide on 4 September, 2025, and will be available in Australia and New Zealand through Cult.

Images courtesy of Fritz Hansen

VIEW STORY

Space Copenhagen Unveils Interiors for Apothéose

In the bustling Toranomon Hills Tower in Tokyo, a new 40-seat restaurant and bar has been brought to life through the creative vision of Space Copenhagen, the celebrated Danish design studio. Named Apothéose, this culinary haven is the brainchild of the celebrated Michelin Chef Keita Kitamura, who returned to Japan after a successful 15-year tenure in Paris. Blending the rich tapestry of Japanese culinary traditions with the sophisticated influences of French culture, the restaurant's interior seamlessly weaves together elements designed by Space Copenhagen to craft an environment that is not only inviting but also serves as the perfect backdrop for patrons to indulge in Chef Kitamura's extraordinary cuisine.

Upon entering Apothéose, guests are greeted by a bespoke sculptural host station in a spacious hallway, which flows effortlessly into a welcoming lounge area. Here, sturdy oak tables and moss-green Loafer Chairs by &Tradition, upholstered in neo-classical-inspired Kvadrat Sacho fabric, invite guests to relax in an atmosphere that feels at once contemporary yet grounded in timeless design.​ The floor and walls are adorned with earthy, warm, light-burnt terracotta tiles, with some wall surfaces covered in a lighter, semi-transparent textile in a natural tone. The space maintains a seamless connection to the outdoor terrace with lush greenery in the form of trees and plants, creating an invitingly organic atmosphere in the restaurant.

As guests leave the open lounge area, they enter a warmly lit passageway lined with built-in wine cabinets. The walls and door frames are covered in refined darkened brass panels, and at the end of the passage is a beautifully crafted double door that marks the entrance to the restaurant. The door, which opens automatically when approached, features an intricate scalloped decorative motif and handles made of darkened brass. As guests enter the restaurant, they are greeted by a vibrant open kitchen with stunning views of the Tokyo Skyline.

The restaurant space has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, offering a noticeable change of pace from the busy urban landscape at the bottom of the Tower. The stunning view of Tokyo feels almost otherworldly and meditative. Light filters through the space from day to night through transparent sheer fabric framing the façade, while the simple and minimal spatial features and surfaces, rich textures, and carefully selected materials are highlighted in different lights. The darkened brass wall panels that wrap around the open kitchen are complemented by walls in chalky plaster, alongside wall panels and floors in light wood. Further use of wooden panelled walls defines a separate, intimate private dining space next to the kitchen.

To enhance the overall design, Space Copenhagen has carefully selected a palette of natural materials for the restaurant’s furnishings including fabrics from Dedar and grey Nuance leather from Sorensen. Gleda dining chairs in solid white oak, designed by Space Copenhagen for British furniture brand Benchmark, are complemented by solid white oak tables custom-made by Benchmark for the restaurant. In the lounge area, artist Hideaki Yamanobe’s painting, fittingly entitled Through the Clouds, adds a poetic layer to the space. A stone waiter’s station serves as a functional and decorative element, housing ceramics, glassware, and sculptural objects, while strengthening the connection between the kitchen and the guests.

Lighting plays a crucial role in creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at Apothéose, with portable Como Lamps by &Tradition providing table illumination, and modern, playful light fixtures from Michael Anastassiades punctuating the wider space. Subtle yet impactful, the lighting reinforces Space Copenhagen’s emphasis on craftsmanship, beauty, honest materiality, quality, curiosity, and balance.

Commenting on the design strategy of the restaurant and bar, Space Copenhagen founders Peter Bundaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen say “We wanted Apothéose to be a refined space of crafted elegance with its own distinctiveness, we hope guests enjoy spending time in its considered and intimate dining and culinary experience.”

Toranomon Hills encapsulates the concept of transformation. What was once primarily known as a business district is now evolving into a multifaceted place that combines work and life with cultural discovery and hospitality. Earlier this year, Space Copenhagen designed Hotel Toranomon Hills, which occupies the ground and 11th to 14th floors of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower. The hotel includes Le Pristine Tokyo, a restaurant by Sergio Herman, also designed by Space Copenhagen, following their celebrated design of the original Le Pristine in Antwerp in 2020.

Photography by Joachim Wichmann

VIEW STORY

Dinesen and John Pawson Launch New Furniture Collection

Dinesen, Denmark’s leading manufacturer of handcrafted wooden flooring and products, has launched a bespoke furniture collection with revered British architectural designer John Pawson, to celebrate 30 years of collaboration. The Pawson Furniture Collection is based on the span of a Dinesen floorboard, whose pared-back forms consequently appear to be lifted directly out of the floor. This served as the inspiration and guiding principle behind both the Dining Series and the complementary new Lounge Series.

Having previously collaborated on projects of varying scale and type—including private homes, exhibitions, museums and chapels, the new furniture collection distills the ethos of the Danish word Umage, which means going beyond what is expected or considered possible, as it expands this sense of progression that Dinesen and Pawson bring to their work.

The origins of the Pawson Furniture Collection for Dinesen can be traced back to 1992 when John Pawson created an original furniture collection solely for Pawson House in London. While designing his private home in Notting Hill, John discovered Dinesen and opted for Douglas fir planks for the flooring. This decision led to the innovative use of uncut planks laid from the front to the back of the house and the creation of a table and stools from boards of corresponding width. A commission unlike anything Dinesen had previously delivered, its success ignited a lifelong friendship and business partnership between Thomas Dinesen, fourth generation and John Pawson. Their enduring collaboration continues to thrive today.

Pawson’s vision saw the floor become a crucial architectural element, and the bespoke furniture for Pawson House further championed Dinesen’s joinery in new and unexpected ways. The Dining Series features a table, bench, and stool, originally conceptualised by John Pawson in 1992 and updated with a shadow gap detail for this collection. The top and legs of the dining table are fabricated from two boards, with the shadow gap now subtly highlighted using a combination of Douglas fir planks and Dinesen Oak inserts. Stools and benches, constructed from single Douglas fir boards with solid central spines, complete the collection.

The Lounge Series is a new, complimentary addition to the original Dining Series, features pieces crafted from solid Douglas wood, including a lounge chair, lounge table, sofa, and daybed. Skilled local cabinet makers in Denmark have built the wooden frames, which are then upholstered with textiles sourced from the renowned Danish textile company Kvadrat. Each piece is made to order, allowing customers to select their preferred textile from Kvadrat's extensive upholstery library. The sofa and armchair showcase the boards on the side elevation, while the cushions continue the theme of assembled and layered elements. Similarly, the daybed and coffee table are conceived as lower iterations of the dining table, creating a cohesive and harmonious collection.

John Pawson reflects on the design of collection for Dinesen, remarking “When I look at this new furniture collection for Dinesen, I see the essence of the thinking that has shaped my work since the beginning. Everything about these pieces is pared back to the logic and poetry of the wood. The dimensions of the timber determine the proportions of the forms and then it’s all about the inherent sensory character of the material.”

Thomas Dinesen, fourth generation at Dinesen, comments on the new furniture collection: “When we met John Pawson in 1992, we provided planks only for castles, manors, and churches, and at that time, they were conical Douglas fir planks only. He was the first to request our wood for a private home, and he wanted planks of the same width (450 mm). John Pawson has in many ways changed our relationship with the 'plank' from a restoration material for historic buildings to a design element in modern architecture."

The Pawson and Dinesen relationship was first struck with Thomas Dinesen in 1992. Since Thomas stepped down in 2021, his son Hans Peter has taken the reins to continue the family’s connection with Pawson for this new furniture launch.

Hans Peter Dinesen, fifth generation, says of the new collection: "More than 30 years after Dinesen and John Pawson first met, we reflect on how far we have come but also to shape our future course. John has had a great impact on the way we view architecture and wood. When John ordered our wood for the first time in 1992, it was a renaissance for our flooring and the plank itself that became a furniture collection. Together with Pawson, we have refined our Heritage Furniture collection and added new pieces to pay tribute to our shared joy in the simple and timeless."

Photography by Claus Troelsgaard

VIEW STORY

New and Noted

There's a lot of design news at the start of the year, so I’ve rounded up some standouts. Stockholm Design Week is back after a long Covid break, there are many newly released furniture, lighting, and homeware collections from Denmark, and an incredible pop-up hotel in Italy to check out…

Stockholm Furniture Fair 2023

After three years, Stockholm Furniture Fair returned last week, delivering plenty of fresh inspiration. A standout exhibition, Älvsjö gård is a new platform for experimental, research-driven, and collectable design in one of Stockholm's oldest manors. The exhibition, spread across 13 rooms set over two floors, featured the work of galleries and independent studios including Tableu from Denmark, Pyton Gallery and Kiosken from Norway and Stockholm Modern, Coulisse Gallery and Veermakers from Sweden. The artist Fredrik Nielsen showcased the installation Mixed Emotions, as shown at the Loewe exhibition in 2022, and the New Narratives exhibition shown below was curated by the fair’s project manager, Hanna Nova Beatrice.

Photography: Jean-Baptiste Beranger

Spring 2023 News from Linie Design

Linie Design is a Danish company that sells handmade rugs in over 70 countries. Combining Nordic design traditions with unique craftsmanship, all rugs are designed by Scandinavian designers and handmade by master artisans in India. They maintain a modern Nordic look in their designs but constantly modify and redefine them to create unexpected expressions and textures. Here is a look at some of my picks from their Spring 2023 collection.

Contrasting bouclé lines create a stunning geometrical effect in Lineal Poem, whilst the tonal palette brings a sense of visual balance and depth. Handcrafted from durable wool, known for its superior softness and warmth, the rug’s quiet poetic presence adds timeless elegance to any interior space.

Lineal Sweep uses changes in height pile and positive and negative contrasts in structure to create a dynamic interplay of curved lines. The meandering rounded forms combined with the deep pile offer visual and tactile appeal, drawing in the eye and inviting touch. The soft, deep pile is made of wool, offering underfoot comfort, warmth, and superior durability.⁠ Designed by Urd Moll Gundermann.

A study in tranquillity, Soft Savannah uses a solid colour in an elegant, neutral tone to create an expanse of uncluttered beauty. Skilfully hand-knotted in pure wool, the short pile offers warmth underfoot and softness to its surroundings for many years to come.

Designed by Urd Moll Gundermann, Cursive Expanse sees a meandering line in contrasting pile length forming a subtle pattern on a neutral background. With an appealing textural and visual effect, this design provides an elegant base for any room. Crafted in pure wool with a GOTS-certified cotton warp, this reinforces the natural, organic expression and ensures superior durability. 

A masterpiece of subtlety, Halo Cloud's clean, minimalistic expression is perfectly framed by the bouclé ends, which add a whisper of visual and textural contrast to the rug's uncluttered aesthetics. Hand-crafted in soft and durable wool with a GOTS-certified cotton warp, Halo Cloud combines the warmth and beauty of wool with cotton yarn to create a classic and elegant floor covering.

Vipp Palazzo Monti Pop-Up Hotel

Vipp has transformed a 13th-century Italian palazzo in Brescia into a pop-up hotel experience, fusing Scandinavian minimalism with Baroque maximalism. The palazzo, which has hosted more than 200 artists in residence since 2017, will be the seventh entry in Vipp's guesthouse portfolio. The Vipp Palazzo Monti, which will open on April 18, 2023, will feature a contemporary suite with minimalist furniture and lighting collections against a backdrop of ornamented décor and art pieces. Danish interior designer Julie Cloos Mølsgaard has realised both the rooms as well as the combined kitchen and dining area occupying the ground floor.

The guesthouse will occupy the first floor, consisting of three consecutive rooms: a hallway, a salon, and a bedroom with an adjacent walk-in and bathroom. Meanwhile, the ground floor will feature a modular V1 kitchen island from Vipp in matte black, taking centre stage in a curious dialogue between contemporary industrial design under a loft of historic Venetian frescoes and over a tiled floor of locally crafted jade tiles. The overall experience of entering the opulent gates of the palazzo is like stepping into an old masters painting. The Vipp Palazzo Monti will be unveiled at the Salone del Mobile, the world's epicentre of design, in April 2023.

Photography: Irina Boersma César Machado

Norm Architects x Malte Gormsen

Norm Architects and Malte Gormsen have collaborated to create a collection of bespoke furniture pieces that reflect their shared belief in tradition, form, and materials. The Malte Gormsen Kollektion emphasizes Norm's soft minimal approach to design and their expertise in craftsmanship. The collection is inspired by a Scandinavian aesthetic rooted in Danish rural culture and references to the centuries-old wood tradition. The pieces are intended to be relevant in their look, shape, function, and quality for generations to come.

Malte Gormsen is known for its fine cabinetmaking craftsmanship and an approach to wood as a living thing rooted in methods used in Ancient Egypt combined with modern technology. The collaboration with Norm Architects aims to create designs that stand alone as sculptures, drawing people to investigate and immerse themselves in the pieces. The collection includes the sculptural wooden MG210 dining table, the decorative and functional MG406 side table/stool, the bronzed brass and leather-clad MG305 credenza, the low tabletop MG211 coffee table, and the large MG407 sculpture available in steel, brass, and copper.

The Malte Gormsen Kollektion pieces are designed with the utmost consideration and respect for the material, adding warmth and homeliness within any interior. The collection represents an everlasting search for improvement and a little twist on the same, emphasizing the importance of craftsmanship, quality, and materials. Overall, the collaboration between Norm Architects and Malte Gormsen offers a collection of timeless furniture pieces that reflect their shared approach to design and architecture.

Spring News from 101 Copenhagen

Danish brand 101 Copenhagen has introduced a range of graphic ceramic table lamps. My favourite is Fungus, which features a mushroom-shaped design that provides a distinctive and eye-catching illumination. Inspired by 70's design, and made entirely from ceramic, with the exception of the metal frame, Fungus emphasizes the natural beauty of its material, highlighting the tactile and textured surface. The Fungus Table Lamp was designed by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl, who have expertly blended modern design with natural elements to create this unique and elegant piece.

Sphere Shisen is the latest addition to 101 Copenhagen’s iconic Sphere series of vases. Its intricate texture is created by small circles, reflecting its name's meaning, "mesh" or "way of seeing things" in Japanese. This design evokes delicacy and refinement, and will no doubt add a touch of elegance and beauty to any living space.

101 Copenhagen also recently launched TRIBU, a unique, architectural furniture collection. The collection features a bench and a stool with an enduring fibre concrete base. Paired with linen cushions, the pieces provide an elegant and comfortable place to sit and relax. 

VIEW STORY