Fjord Boat House

Bottom left, uniquely

located close to the

water’s edge on the

border of Denmark and

Germany, The Fjord Boat

House is a peaceful

retreat from everyday life.

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Bottom left, one-handle

mixer with double swivel

spout, in 40 Brushed

stainless steel.

The Audo

Below left, MENU’s

hybrid space for work,

play, eat and sleep

in Nordhavnen,

Copenhagen.

Restaurant Äng

Below right, Michelin-

starred restaurant

within a Swedish,

family-run winery

creating dishes from

home-grown produce.

Architecture and design have grappled with this

tension between ‘less’ and ‘more’ for centuries and

continue to play a vital role in the search for a

spatial equilibrium that satisfies human needs and

pleases the senses, while leaving enough freedom

to dream. More than ever, today’s designer

requires extensive reflection on what matters in

order to attain essentialism; adding and reducing

elements until equilibrium emerges and remaining

attuned to the atmospheric potential of space. If

spaces and objects are to ascend to the level of

truly timeless design, they should first recede a little

to the background and leave room for the colour

and complexity of life to be overlaid, giving time an

opportunity to fill the void with meaning.

An essentialist mindset urges us to create well-

made materials and spaces that last, rather than

succumbing to passing trends or construction

shortcuts. If the design reduces itself to its essence

and nothing more, and if it is made intentionally,

we’re choosing a naturally more sustainable path.

Achieving simple yet sensuous spaces requires a

sincere devotion to craftsmanship and an ambition

to work with high-quality materials and detailing.

It is more difficult to be selective than it is to be

excessive, and it takes a great deal of skill to craft

spaces and furniture that work well while hiding

everything except the essentials.

If we aim for the virtues of simplicity and function

while also considering the human experience, we

can arrive at homes, workplaces, tables and chairs

that are empathetically expressive. Like the

products of modernism, these designs can avoid

superfluous details and succeed in providing

inclusive utility; they can also gently awaken our

senses in a manner that feels helpful, honest and

beautiful. The goal is to create lasting functional

designs that work simply, and simply feel good.

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