Swedish pine – material of the future at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair

Photo: Johan Ardefors Photo: Johan Ardefors

Pine’s position as an interesting material of the future is clearly showcased in the Trend Exhibition created by the Swedish design studio Halleroed for Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair on 6–10 February. It is a wood species that can take on a wealth of innovative expressions thanks to modern surface treatments and new technology. There are many reasons why this is an exciting collaboration for the industry organisation Swedish Wood.

The Halleroed design studio has chosen Swedish Wood as one of its partners for the Trend Exhibition at the Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair. The event organisers commissioned Halleroed and the Material Library to create an environment that explores the themes of real, fake and craftsmanship. Pine logs have been used as the epitome of real materials. But the logs are also a symbol of the process that produces future materials for interior design.

Christian & Ruxandra Halleröd, photo Helena Kaasik
Christian & Ruxandra Halleröd, photo Helena Kaasik

“It’s important for Swedish Wood to have a presence at the fair. It’s one of the year’s most important events in Northern Europe and the fact that Christian Halleröd’s design team has chosen to embrace pine in the Trend Exhibition proves what a solid place this material has, not just in furniture production but more widely in modern interiors. The wooden wall panels that Materialbiblioteket has put on display are also fascinating products for future interior design,” says Charlotte Dedye Apelgren, Director of Interior and Design at Swedish Wood.

Pine wall panels lend a warm and modern feel to interiors. The latest technology and new surface treatments make Swedish pine panelling ideal for creating interiors with a wide array of looks and styles. At the same time, they are made from a natural, renewable Swedish material – properties that are increasingly in demand among today’s discerning consumers.

“Pine is a versatile material that can adopt many different looks, since the surface is so easy to treat. It can be sanded and brushed, for example, to create different textures. The surface can also be stained or painted in different colours and shades. A brown or black stain, for example, can conjure associations with very different wood species. And using a metallic paint can even create associations with entirely different materials,” explains Charlotte Dedye Apelgren.

1-ytor-furu_kollageFor Halleroed, the aim of the exhibition is also to open up a debate about what is real and what is fake. ‘Real’ materials are becoming scarce or morally indefensible to extract and thus are being replaced by man-made imitations, which are often called ‘fake’ material. Pine, however, is in plentiful supply in Sweden. What is more, the Swedish forests are managed in a sustainable way, since more trees are replanted in Sweden than are harvested.

The award-winning Halleroed design studio, which has designed high-end stores for clients such as Acne Studios, Totême and Byredo, is based in Stockholm but also works internationally. As competition from online retailers increases, they focus on creating environments that offer an experience for those who visit the physical stores.

ytor-och-material“It seemed obvious for us to have pine in the Trend Exhibition. Wood is a material we always like to use when creating our furniture and interiors. Pine is also an inspiring wood species to use when creating modern environments, plus it ages beautifully,” concludes Christian Halleröd.