Form and function

From wallpapers to interiors, glassware to ceramics, and clothes to cars, there's something uniquely elegant yet practical about Swedish design. The creative expertise of the Swedes has variously been attributed to the country's historical focus on functional design, beginning with the legendary Stockholm Exhibition of 1930; on their constant quest to make the most efficient use of limited natural resources such as birch, pine, cotton and felt; on their largely egalitarian value system where they take pride in having a room full of exactly the same furniture that about a hundred other homes in their neighbourhood have; and on their traditional zeal to achieve the best possible mix of beauty and utility.

That achievement hasn't been easy,but the marriage of aesthetics and affordabilityin product design is hardly surprising in a country that has given the world a range of inspirations, from the Nobel prize and Abbato H&M and the humble meatball.

Innovative ideas

While Ikea has redefined the interiors landscape for thousands of homes worldwide, there are also dozens of devoted design gurus and architects who are reinforcing Sweden's reputation as a hub of innovation in design.

As Pauline Madani, Managing Directorof Nordic Homeworx Dubai, explains, Swedish design tends to be simple and natural, sometimes edgy and modern, sometimes traditional and classically Scandinavian.Swedish designers would often rely on traditional methods of craftsmanship, and where possible, try to be ecologically sustainable.

Nordic Homeworx itself specialises in the supply and installation of wooden flooring, and is the exclusive UAE agent for Kährs of Sweden, which is a leading manufacturer of real wood and multi-layered floors. One of the key criteria for a successful Swedish design remains its functionality: how useful will the end user find it?

Practical solutions

The Swedish word "lagom", which means "neither too much, nor too little", seems to capture the essence of the Swedish design philosophy. Such products are highly sophisticated but emphasise practicality and must perform their functions efficiently, points out Panicos Panayiotou, President of Duxiana Middle East, a company that with its "practically yet artistically" designed beds is trying to redefine the concept of sleep in our daily lives.

Another Swedish brand, Ordning & Reda, reiterates the importance of functionalityin its design principle. "Our products are typically Scandinavian. They are simple and clean and designed aesthetically with a purpose in mind," says Lars Narfeldt, master franchiserof Ordning&Reda.

In a country of vast openness, streams and lakes, mountains and rolling plains it is clear that nature has an impact on the minds of its artists and craftsmen. The imprints of nature are evident in Swedish styles and designs: in their selection of patterns, forms, shapes and colours.

Natural characteristic

Optimal use of natural resources, while choosing raw materials for artistic expressions, is another key feature of Swedish craftsmanship. Often called ‘the land of forests', the abundance of trees makes wood an obvious choice of raw material for many Swedish designers. � "Architecturally, most homes in Sweden are made of wood, mainly because of its natural insulating properties as well as its durability against the harsh winter weather. Compared to other building materials, wood is also incredibly eco-friendly," says Madani.

The careful selection of natural resources forms a significant part of design decisions. Duxiana, for instance, uses pine trees that grow in the northern part of Sweden for its bed frames. "These trees grow very slowly, in the extremely harsh winters, which results in tightly spaced growth rings. This slow growth makes it one of the strongest pines in the world, ideal for bed frames," says Panayiotou. And a strong concern for the environment and a national law ensure that there's a healthy balance between felling of trees and planting new saplings.

Another key feature of Swedish designis its flexibility and adaptability to global demands. Swedish designs evolve continuously and never restrict themselves to geographical boundaries, a perfect example being the clothing line H&M. The company's global designs have made it untenable to restrict H&M's identity to a purely Swedish brand. The same principle applies to Nordic Homeworx.

"Many of our clients love the clean, simple and natural Scandinavian look… but herein the UAE there are so many cultures and traditions that our collections have inevitably become mixed with other global tastes to make some unique design statements," Madani says.

Reflecting trends

With fashion embracing global cultures, it has become evident in the creations of Swedish designers and brands such as Acne, Hope, Nakkna, Whyred, Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair and Carin Wester. This holds true for Duxiana as well. Swedish roots and its heritage do play a key role in the design process, but Duxiana also integrates global influences in its designs to create a well-balanced product line suitable for diverse markets. "In many ways this constitutes a Swedish mentality, being thatwe are such a small country in northernEurope," says Panayiotou.

Whether it's in their purest form orin a global cultural mix, there's no denying that Swedish designs are increasingly becoming popular in the UAE and the region. So when you are looking for that perfect balance of style and substance, when you want products whose beauty will endure,you know what to opt for.