Swedish design duo Folkform think not, and have continued their work with the local factories in the small village of Rundvik in Vasterbotten in the very north of Sweden.

They believe globalisation has given rise to a new local dimension in design.

-The new Folkform products carry with them the spirit and history of the place where they are produced.

Folkform will also present a collection in the new Masonite hardboard range which is made by Folkform in the factory in Rundvik. By combining the wood fibres with other organic material it has been possible to give this down to earth material an entirely new look. Natural flowers and dead butterflies have been inserted into the huge masonite presses to create a permanent organic decoration embedded in the masonite hardboard.

Folkform

Folkform design studio in Stockholm, Sweden is owned and run by industrial designers Anna Holmquist and Chandra Ahlsell.

Anna and Chandra, both of whom gained an MA at Konstfack, Stockholm, in 2005, work on own projects, as well as customer assignments in the borderland between art and design. They experiments with materials, both traditional and new, exploring the scope for using them in new ways and new application areas.

“Folkform transforms simplicity into all its complexity, and gives the obvious an underlying and ambiguous meaning. Seeing the subtle in the simple, and challenging prevalent design codes is one of their absolute strengths” Motivation Future Design Days Award 2006

Awards

Future Design Days Award 2006
Swedish Design Year Award 2005

Exhibitions (selected)

Future Design Days 2006
Stockholm Fair

Salone Satellite, Milan 2006

The Design Marathon 2006
Ministry of Culture, Stockholm

Contemporary Swedish Design 2006

Ambiente Internationale Frankfurter Messe Frankfurt

Designers Block, Milan 2005

Swedish Style Milan 2005

Swedish Style Tokyo 2004

Coming up exhibition: Typically Scandinavian, Berlin 11-14 may 2007

Image texts

1.The Factory The masonite hardboard factory is located in the north of Sweden in Västerbotten where the professional experience of processing wood spans over generations in places such as Sorsele, Burträsk and Vännäs.

2.Sawmill 3. The hardboard material is made out of the left over sawdust from the sawmills in the area.

3. Making the new material Real flowers are placed on the masonite pulp.

4. The Masonite press By combining wood-fibre with organic materials under high pressure it has been possible to give this down to earth material an entirely new look.

5. Samples of masonite How can we create new forms of expression by combining materials in new ways?
How do we add new value to traditional down-to-earth materials such as the humble masonite?

6. Atlas pouffe Laser-cut steel merges with the soft fabric. The swarm of insects forms the pouffe.

7. Atlas table A real Atlas butterfly has been inserted into the huge masonite presses to create a permanent organic decoration embedded in the masonite hardboard

8. Rotation Pendant lamp inspired by the rotation of the huge gear-wheels in the factory. The lamp is moving slowly round its axis, transforming the movement to the next lamp.

Contact

Folkform
+46 737 67 55 45
Stora skuggans vag 11
115 42 Stockholm
Sweden