We Love This – The icons of Scandinavian minimalism

Once you have visited a certain number of Scandinavian homes, you will start to notice an almost eery similarity in décor. Scandinavians love the simplicity and elegance of Scandinavian minimalism, and it is not an exaggeration to say that almost every middle or upper-class family will have at least one of the movement’s iconic designs in their home. We present a selection of our favourites.

PH 5 (Anniversary edition), Poul Henningsen
Good lighting is essential to Scandinavian minimalism so perhaps it is not surprising that one of the most popular designs of the movement is a lamp. In 1958, Poul Henningsen crafted the PH 5 with his renowned shade system, ensuring soft, soothing, and entirely glare-free illumination. This anniversary edition, coated in matte white outside and pale pink inside, emits a gentle, warm glow. The metallic brass supports add a touch of ele- gance, rendering it not just a luminary but a piece of art.

www.louispoulsen.com
From 995 pounds

J39 Chair, Børge Mogensen

The fact that the elegant J39 has been in continuous production for more than 75 years speaks volumes about its timeless appeal. The chair was designed, in 1947, by Børge Mogensen, one of the leading figures in Danish modern design and the founder of Frederi- cia Furniture, which still produces it today. Simple, versatile, and beautiful, it is the epitome of minimal- ism and is sure to add a touch of Scandinavian sophis- tication to any living room.

www.fredericia.com
From 520 euro

Savoy Vase, Alvar Aalto

The legendary Savoy Vase was created by Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect and designer renowned for his organic approach to architecture and furniture design. Today, his vase will be recognised by every Finn you meet. The vase is one of the many designs of Scandinavian minimalism produced by the globally renowned Finnish design brand Iittala.

www.iittala.com
From: 199.90 euros

Pelican, Finn Juhl

Less famous than the EggTM Chair, the Pelican Chair by Danish designer Finn Juhl carries some of the same iconic characteristics. The organic shapes and one-piece structure of Juhl’s designs, however, also made them very hard to mass produce, meaning that for decades, many only existed in a couple of handmade units. Fortunately, more than half a century after it was first cre- ated, House of Finn Juhl managed to put the graceful Pelican into production, proving that Juhl’s designs are still strikingly modern, half surrealistic sculp- ture, but 100 per cent furniture.

www.finnjuhl.com
Pelican, from around 5,500 pounds.

Wishbone Chair, Hans Wegner

A strong contender for the title of the most “famous chair in the world”, the Wishbone Chair, is literally found in every second upper and upper-middle-class home you step into in Denmark. The chair’s elegant shape and the prominence of natural materials are all char- acteristic of the movement of Scandinavian minimalism. Moreover, it makes the chair not just timeless in expression but also in quality as proven by the many vintage editions of the chair still being resold.

www.carlhansen.com
From: 551 pounds

EggTM Chair, Arne Jacobsen

You cannot write about Scandinavian minimalism, without including the EggTM Chair. It is probably not too far-fetched to say that, at least in the North-Western hemisphere of the world, this is the most famous piece of furniture ever designed. With its smooth curves, distinctive form, and superb comfort, this design icon is not just for decoration but the perfect addition to any reading nook. Despite its somewhat hefty price tag, it is impossible not to love.

www.fritzhansen.com
From: 7,099 pounds