Milan Design Week welcomes Norwegian Presence to Zona Tortona

DOGA partners with Kebony to celebrate Norwegian design on the world stage

Kebony a beautiful wood recommended by leading architects, is delighted to announce that it is exhibiting at the world famous Milan Design Week which began yesterday and will continue this week until the 22 April. Widely recognised for attracting and celebrating the very best in design from around the globe, this annual international furniture exhibition is host to a set of events throughout the city including ‘Norwegian Presence’, a unique exhibition organised by Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA), in partnership with Kebony, to showcase some of the visionary designers and manufacturers, who are ultimately responsible for the success of Norway’s design culture.

For the fourth consecutive year the Norwegian exhibition has returned, now exploring new grounds in the famous Zona Tortona district which transforms during the Milan Design Week to present the most innovative, forward-thinking and beautiful feats of design and manufacturing. Supported by The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Innovation Norway and The Federation of Norwegian Industries, Norwegian Presence is a collaboration between Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA), Klubben and Norwegian Crafts. The exhibition exhibits a range of new products, sculptural craftwork and iconic designs.

Curated with quality and sustainability in mind, Norwegian Presence explores how the Norwegian concept of fellesskap (community, fellowship and collaboration) is able to shape the country’s modern creative culture to motivate manufacturers and showcase the country’s skills in both craft and technology – and how the two can be fused together. Norway’s design community has become synonymous with pushing the boundaries and with a shared sense of curiosity to explore possibilities in the hope of creating something beautiful, functional and lasting.

Norwegian Presence is currently showcasing some of the country’s best established and emerging design talents including: Domaas Høgh, Lars Tornøe, Marianne Andersen, Victoria Günzler, Martin Solem, Noidoi, Petter Skogstad, Sara Polmar, So Takahashi, Stine Aas and Vera & Kyte. Prototypes are also being shown alongside finished products which have all been created to enrich homes and enhance lives. The craft area features the work of: Lillian Tørlen, Pearla Pigao, Stian Korntved Ruud and Sigve Knutson, who were chosen for their ability to blend ancient making techniques with new technologies.

The final division, ‘manufacture’, displays some of Norway’s most iconic design objects with reputable brands including; Elementa with its UN Divided System by Jonas Stokke and Øystein Austad; Northern, features its Loud cabinet by Färg & Blanche; Flokk – formerly known as Scandinavian Business Seating; Objekt is launching at Norwegian Presence with a tubular steel chair named Grorudstolen and Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik is displaying a range of beautiful fabrics. Finally, Vestre, a family owned business that creates sustainable furniture for public spaces is displaying its Atlas Bench featuring sustainable Kebony wood.

Developed in Norway, Kebony’s technology is an environmentally friendly process, which enhances sustainably sourced softwoods by modifying the wood with furfuryl alcohol – an agricultural by-product. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. Kebony exemplifies the objective of Norwegian Presence with its revolutionary technology, ultimately producing a beautiful and sustainable wood used by designers and architects around the world.

Grete Sivertsen, Project Manager at DOGA/Norwegian Presence commented: “Norway is a small country, where designers, makers and manufacturers need to stand united. This exhibition – like the Norwegian design industry as a whole – is all about sharing and lifting each other up to make something happen. It has been a pleasure to work with Kebony to co-organise this exhibition and I look forward to working with them again in the future.”

Adrian Pye, International Sales Director at Kebony added: “It is a great honour for Kebony to be involved in this year’s Norwegian Presence at Milan Design Week. Like all of the wonderful exhibitors, Kebony is delighted to showcase its innovative, sustainable and beautiful design at one of the world’s most prestigious international design events.”