Balance is easy to understand, yet much harder to achieve in practice. Danish design, spurred by the concept of hygge, evokes a complete sense of calm and resolution. Informed by the human condition, these furnishings somehow foster comfort in even the most minimalist of silhouettes, free of anything unnecessary, yet with a quiet might all their own.
In 1962, Hans J. Wegner designed the CH290 Series, exercising expert knowledge of proportion alongside command over form to give life to a two- and three-seater sofa, high chair and low chair, and an ottoman. Over sixty years later, Carl Hansen & Søn spotlight this three-piece, five-variant collection fostering a link between new audiences and history’s masters of design.
Evoking a bug about to jump, round legs leap from the ground at jaunty angles to form the base of the low lounge chair. Generous armrests meet the legs, working to form a solid horizontal line and the signature facet of the series – somewhat of an optical illusion as one travels around the piece. The cushions are held in place with thick slats, breaks in the structure heightening a sense of visual sturdiness.
The high lounge variation builds on existing DNA, extending the chair’s profile beyond the back cushion into a headrest, retaining a sense of elegance and cohesion.
The ottoman, also identified as a stool, presents a variety of views onlookers will appreciate. From a direct approach, round-bottomed legs meet a square base where the cushion atop it peeks out to form a comfortable seat. On the sides, slick joinery rises up slightly, holding the cushion perfectly in place. A welcome aesthetic companion, the strong sense of proportion throughout the CH290 series is emblematic of the best of Wegner’s work.
The two- and three-seater sofa makes a stately addition to the seating collection, with the signature armrest, wide and welcoming, and the pitched back, a perfect place for relaxation. A beautiful example of why Wegner’s designs are so timeless, all pieces are meant to be viewed from every angle. By visually forcing proportions to interact with each other that is naturally pleasing to the eye – in the way that ancient Greek columns fostered a sense of might and grandeur – these forms create a lasting language, cohesive and continually modern, no matter the decade.
In essence, this collaboration feels natural. Carl Hansen continues to craft all of their furniture in Denmark under one roof – manufacturing with honesty, committed to preserving an age-old ethos. Wegner’s designs will endure far into the future alongside the brand, imparting balance and ease in our fast-paced world. Two titans of the industry in their own right, each bring their own unique perspective to the series, promoting heirloom-quality production in the process.
To learn more about the CH290 Series from Carl Hansen & Søn, which will be available in December, visit carlhansen.com.
Photography courtesy of Carl Hansen & Søn.
