Mårten
Claesson, Eero Koivisto and Ola Rune
The Nordic influence and impact on world history has been nothing
short of phenomenal considering the relative size of the population
and land occupied. Unfortunately, most common knowledge about Scandinavia
and Scandinavian history is limited to the Vikings. Despite their
perceived ill repute, this nomadic tribe was responsible for creating
one of the worlds largest trading networks: one that stemmed from
the tip of Scandinavia to what was once North Africa. More importantly,
perhaps, is the fact that it was this same group which founded many
of the cities in current Russia and paved the road for the first
Europeans to appear in North America some 500 years before Columbus.
The Swedes are back and contemporary history notwithstanding; the
current Nordic triumvirate invading the world go by the names Mårten
Claesson, Eero Koivisto, and Ola Rune. Exhibiting dogged dynamism
the trio has almost single- handedly created a global design legacy
in only a few short years. You won't hear them admit it, but consider
an amazing oeuvre for a small office working a few steps off the
street in a lower level former sausage factory in the middle of Stockholm.
Within the last four or five years the team has designed over a dozen
private homes, boutiques, offices, restaurant interiors and
exhibitions - everything from a Gucci to a McDonalds. - And winning
awards in the process - (the accolades alone would increase the hat
sizes of most designers). In addition to the architectural projects,
the team works either collectively or individually on product and
furniture design commissions that span dozens of currently produced
pieces by some of the world's top manufacturers including Boffi,
Cappellini, David Design, Offecct, Swedese, and Living Divani to
name a few. All this and more from three men who usually dress in
black and who actually seem to get along with each other. |
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