Carl Hansen & Søn is a family business that has epitomized craftmanship and carpentry of Danish furniture-making for three generations. At Milan Design Week Cult met with CEO, Knud Erik Hansen, to discuss where Carl Hansen & Søn is today and what their new collaboration with Austrian design studio, EOOS, will take the company for genereations to come.
April 22nd, 2015
CH445 Wing armchair, designed by Hans J. Wegner.
CH468 armchair, designed by Hans J. Wegner.
Cult: This year Carl Hansen & Søn celebrates the four designers Hans J. Wegner, Frits Henningsen, Ole Wanscher and Austrian design studio, EOOS. What do these designers have in common?
Knud Erik: All four architects are very talented in my mind. They do not work on any kind of fashion but work on a note that would be relevant also in 20, 50, well even in 100 years of time!
At Carl Hansen & Søn we do not work to meet any fashion trend. We work on delivering the best of quality, craftsmanship, design and value for our customers. We find that our customers enjoy our products as they keep on reverting to us for more supply.
EOOS are new for Carl Hansen & Søn and although they are young designers they have an ability to meet with the same criteria, which we have mentioned above. Therefore it is our hope that the EOOS and Carl Hansen & Søn relationship will last for many years to come.
Cult: Yes speaking of EOOS, how did this partnership form and what can we expect from it?
Knud Erik: We met with EOOS at the Bulthaup head office in Germany! Our chemistry seemed to match immediately, and we have discussed the format for our collaboration ever since. By launching the new chair by EOOS, The Embrace Chair, we are starting a new area of design in Carl Hansen & Søn; one that match the requirements from the slightly younger customers of ours. We are very excited about the new collaboration and hope that the new chair will meet our customers’ expectations for the normal Carl Hansen & Søn qualities as well as the special touch from the EOOS designers.
Cult: During the fair in Milan you demonstrate the craftsmanship that goes into your furniture through demonstrations and workshops. In Australia, we also look forward to welcoming your weaver, Benny, who will demonstrate the weaving techniques of making the Wishbone chair. What can we expect from Benny?
Knud Erik: You may expect to witness something totally new to the Australian and get a much deeper understanding on how to weave a Wishbone Chair and possibly other Carl Hansen & Søn products too. Benny is a very capable craftsman as he has worked for Carl Hansen & Søn during the past 20 years. If you look at the tattoos on Benny’s arms and legs you will also experience a person of the highest loyalty and dignity to the company and the products that we produce. This is quite amazing!
Cult: Carl Hansen & Son is especially known for your range of iconic chairs that transcend time. How would you describe a perfect chair in 3 words?
Knud Erik: Top Quality Comfort.
Carl Hansen & Son is available from Cult in Australia and New Zealand. Please visit here for more information about our Carl Hansen & Son range.
Interview courtesy of CULT
Photography courtesy of CULT
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