For over 150 years, Fritz Hansen has been a leading force in Scandinavian design, collaborating with renowned names like Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjærholm, and Jaime Hayon. Their commitment to natural materials, innovative techniques, and sustainable practices has resulted in timeless classics. While Fritz Hansen’s iconic designs are renowned worldwide, they haven’t always been easily accessible in Taiwan. To bring the beauty of Scandinavian design to a wider audience, Fritz Hansen’s Taiwanese distributor, Berhjet International, has secured a unique opportunity to showcase the brand’s exquisite furniture in a pop-up café setting.
From October 10th to October 27th, CAFE ACME at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum will be transformed into “Fritz Hansen Pop-up Café.” This pop-up experience offers a chance to immerse yourself in Fritz Hansen’s world. Enjoy coffee and light meals while sitting on iconic designs like the Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 Chair and Ant Chair. Explore the three outdoor furniture collections: Tradition, Selandia, and Drachmann, showcasing their aesthetic appeal and high functionality.
Immerse Yourself in Outdoor Elegance
The pop-up café boasts indoor and outdoor dining areas. The indoor space will be furnished with classic Fritz Hansen designs, providing a tangible experience of their enduring appeal. Meanwhile, the outdoor areas on the first and second floors will feature the three outdoor furniture collections. The newly launched Tradition series, flown in directly from Denmark, makes its debut in Taiwan. Imagine relaxing with a cup of coffee on a plush outdoor sofa under the shade of a stylish umbrella, enjoying the gentle autumn breeze – a true taste of Scandinavian outdoor living.
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Tradition:
This collection, meticulously crafted by Danish designer Povl B. Eskildsen, extends Scandinavian design principles to outdoor spaces. Crafted from FSC-certified solid teak, each piece will naturally develop a captivating silver-grey patina over time, showcasing its enduring quality and durability. Drawing inspiration from traditional spindle furniture and mid-century modern aesthetics, Tradition combines visual appeal with practicality, making it ideal for private gardens, patios, and outdoor settings in hotels and restaurants.*
Selandia:
Known for its unique curved lines and elegant Scandinavian look, the Selandia collection evokes a carefree summer night atmosphere with subtle French influences. All tables and chairs feature quick-folding mechanisms, while the curved design minimizes visual bulk and comfortably contours to the human form. Combining practicality with aesthetics, Selandia seamlessly integrates elegant and lightweight furniture details, making it a perfect choice for any season.*
Drachmann:
Inspired by the beautiful garden of renowned Danish poet and painter Holger Drachmann, the Drachmann collection features a recognizable silhouette with a subtle decorative touch to its backrest. This collection strikes a harmonious balance between nostalgic Scandinavian style and modern simplicity, which contributes to its consistent popularity. Crafted from high-quality, untreated teak, it develops a beautiful and timeless silver-grey sheen over time, encapsulating the natural evolution of beauty.Beyond Coffee and Furniture
The pop-up café offers more than just a chance to experience iconic furniture. Two exclusive limited-edition chairs, the EggTM Chair and the SwanTM Chair, will be on display. While you can’t sit on them, the opportunity to appreciate these iconic pieces up close offers a valuable understanding of why they have become design classics.
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EggTM Chair Super Limited Edition:
To celebrate Fritz Hansen’s 150th anniversary, a limited edition of 150 EggTM Chairs was released. Taiwan secured 10 of these coveted chairs, each bearing a unique numbered copper plaque beneath the cushion, making them highly collectible. This edition not only revives the iconic chair originally designed for the SAS Royal Hotel by Arne Jacobsen but elevates it with a luxurious touch. The seat is covered in premium, vintage forest green cowhide leather that retains the natural texture of the leather. The chair rests on a rose gold metal base, making it a truly elegant masterpiece that won’t be replicated.*
SwanTM Chair Special Edition:
Arne Jacobsen’s iconic SwanTM Chair, another celebrated design, is presented in a special edition for 2024. It features Serpertine fabric from the renowned Danish textile brand Kvadrat. Using a mathematical arrangement, the fabric weaves together three colors of fiber to create a mesmerizing play of light and shadow. The chair is finished with a elegant brown chestnut leather edging, showcasing the Swan’s captivatingly intricate curves.More Than Just Furniture
Fritz Hansen offers more than just large furniture pieces. Their collection also features a range of everyday objects and lifestyle products that allow consumers to integrate Scandinavian aesthetics into their daily lives. From tote bags, postcards, and washi tape to furniture models, the “Fritz Hansen Pop-up Café” provides a platform to acquire these delightful items. Among them, the Ikeru vase series, designed by the Spanish design prodigy Jaime Hayon and inspired by Japanese Ikebana, is a must-have. The brand will also host Danish floral workshops on October 12th and 19th, allowing participants to learn flower arrangement techniques and take home their own Ikeru vase.
A Taste of Denmark
CAFE ACME, in partnership with Fritz Hansen, has crafted a limited-time coffee and food menu inspired by Danish everyday life. “White Anchovy Avocado Confit Garlic Bread Open Sandwich” and “Cheese and Ham Platter” exemplify the Scandinavian emphasis on healthy and simple cuisine. The traditional “Cinnamon Roll”, a staple in Danish baking culture, is a perfect accompaniment to coffee. The ubiquitous elderflower in Denmark inspired the “Pear Elderflower Cream Cake”, a refreshing dessert featuring autumnal pear flavors.
