Design trends: ‘Full Metal Furniture’ from the North

Full Metal Furniture design from the North. Modular Seats System by Swedish Girls – Photo by Swedish Girls.

Design – It was all about Full Metal Furniture at the past Stockholm Design Week! Brands, companies, and designers experimented with aluminium and metals with sustainability in mind. We selected ten statement pieces and collections debuting in the Swedish Capital.

RELATED STORIES: Read more about Stockholm Design Week 2024 on Archipanic.

NM3 metal collection at SFF 2024 – Photo by Mikael Olsson.

Norwegian outdoor furniture brand Vestre launched Tellus, the world’s first bench made entirely of SSAB’s innovative 100% fossil-free steel—a cutting-edge material set to revolutionise the steel industry. Designed by Emma Olbers, the almost zero-emissions seat is stripped and free of any covering or colour treatment. “We have striven to use as little materials as possible while still retaining the strong construction. I believe it should radiate both a metallic feel and a tactility but also look welcoming.” Said Olbers.

Tellus bench by Emma Olbers x VESTRE – Photo by VESTRE.

Raw aluminium is the common denominator of Wästberg‘s Raw collection of lamps designed by internationally acclaimed architects. The ten lamps in the collection are all variants of new or existing lamps and come with a surface with a tactile depth. The company’s CEO, Magnus Wästberg, believes that constantly creating new objects is not the solution. “Sometimes we already did the best we could with a product, so there is no use trying to do something new. And just because we did the best we could with a product, it doesn’t mean that that product cannot get better.”

Raw Collection by Wästberg – Photo by Andy Liffner, courtesy of Wästberg.

Based between Milan and Stockholm, Mira Bergh and Josefin Zachrisson of the Swedish Girls collective joined Stockholm Design Week with an exhibition featuring an eclectic metal fountain, aluminium sculptures and their modular seat system. “The carefully calculated radiuses, profiles and degrees translate into a precise system produced by machines, assembled and welded by hand. With durable material choices and social focus Seats System can be adapted to any space – indoors and outdoors, public and private.”

Modular Seats System by Swedish Girls – Photo by Swedish Girls.

Intriguing full metal furniture was on display at Älvsjö Gård, Stockholm Furniture Fair’s platform for experimental and limited-edition pieces by designers and makers navigating between small-scale work and industrial design. German designer Carsten in Derelst presented a metallic sofa with a raw aesthetic made from industrial by-products.

Metal sofa by Carsten in Derelst – Photo Erik Lefvander, courtesy of Stockholmsmässan.

At the Älvsjö Gård exhibition, Swedish designer Jenny Nordberg presented the Mental Note candelabra, which is composed of aluminium tubes and plastic joints. “What if this material and technique that so often have played the supporting role in many of my projects for once could act as the main character? With this project, these understated elements finally play a lead role.” The designer told Archpanic.

Mental Note candelabra by Jenny Nordberg – Photo Erik Lefvander, courtesy of Stockholmsmässan.

Armed with VR binoculars, Gustav Winsth and Alexander Lervik met in the virtual realm from their respective studios to conceive, digitally prototype and bring to life the Reality aluminium chair. “Inviting someone into my design process and sharing the experience of sketching in 3D has been a significant step for me. Collaborating with someone who brings traditional design experience and appreciates our achievements strengthens my belief in the transformative potential of VR for design.” Said Gustav Winsth. Once designed, the seat was then physically crafted by skilled metal workers. On display at Älvsjö Gård.

Reality Chair by Gustav Winsth and Alexander Lervik – Photo by Erik Lefvander, courtesy of Stockholmsmässan.

Milan-based design studio and brand NM3 has expanded its shiny metal furniture collection with a new sofa and ottoman. The production is based on the capabilities of medium-light metalworking tools and processes, including 2D numerical control cutting, bending presses, threading, and inserts. Starting from a uniform metal sheet, the pieces are laser-cut and dry-assembled.

NM3 metal collection at SFF 2024 – Photo by Mikael Olsson.

The P-L series by Scottish-Swedish designer Nick Ross for Niko June is inspired by the post-and-lintel system found in ancient Greek and Indian architecture, where post-like vertical elements intersect and support horizontal lintels. The collection comprises a chai, stools and candle holders. The collection comprises a chair, a stool and candleholders. According to the designer, the new collection is imbued with “archetypical intelligence and generational glitches.”

P-L chair by Nick Ross for Niko June – Photo by Nick Ross.

Featuring a sturdy steel tube frame and ultra-slim shelves, the Tension trolley by Gustav Winsth for Lammhults is inspired by both the sleek minimalism of today’s personal devices and the Swedish company’s bold S70 series from the late ‘60s. “A trolley is a vehicle, so I made the castors visible and integral to the overall design. Subtly inspired by skate culture, the custom mobility system gives Tension its playful personality.”

Tension trolleys by Gustav Winsth x Lammhults – Photo by Lammhults.

Designers Stefan Borselius and Thomas Bernstrand teamed up with Swedish furniture brand Blå Station to create Veva. This simple yet ingeniously naive table can be raised and lowered by winding a handle. The metal table comes in two standard height variations and can be finished in various colours.