Introducing the Utzon Stool by Jørn Utzon
SYMPHONY OF IMAGINATION
A playful expressive design by the acclaimed Danish architect.
Fritz Hansen is proud to introduce the Utzon Stool, a rare furniture piece designed by Jørn Utzon, that embodies the acclaimed Danish architect’s love of nature, sculptural approach and sheer originality. Developed from a prototype made by Utzon in the 1950s, at the time he was designing the Sydney Opera House, the stool in oiled beech with brass detailing is the only piece of his furniture currently in production.
Utzon approached furniture design by applying the same principles that defined his architecture, a synthesis of diverse references and what he called additive architecture, multiple configurations using a limited number of prefabricated components. In the stool, the modular principle is evident in the repetitive shapes of the steam-bent legs. Utzon often used maritime references and the spheres of the seat recall marine fenders along with his love of nature and its recurring forms.
“In this stool you have all of Utzon’s fascination with organic shapes, his creativity and inspiration from nature. He had this very sculptural way of working and this is expressed as well.” says Marie-Louise Høstbo, Creative Design Director, Fritz Hansen. “The base is clearly inspired by how he perceived nature as the ultimate model, his sculptural approach, and the structural elements in his furniture.”
The wooden spheres echo wooden models that Utzon made for some of his projects, the most famous of which is the spherical solution for the sails of the Sydney Opera House roof. The protruding mushroom-like forms also evoke the playful side of Utzon.
Well suited for contemporary living, the stool combines pragmatism and dynamism. A sturdy and flexible seat, it is light enough to move around easily and robust enough for commercial use.
Released in 2024 and put into production for the first time, the stool marks the renewal of a relationship that Fritz Hansen shared with Utzon since the 1960s with the Concert lamp. Its distinctive individual character represents the spirit of one of the most important architects of the 20th century.
“We believe Utzon deserves a renewed focus, for his architecture clearly, but also how he applied his architectural principles to designing furniture. His humanism and the way he thought about how people would use something. We can learn a lot from Utzon, from his way of interpreting nature, his belief in pushing the edge of the possible, and that dedication is key.”
JØRN UTZON, 1918-2008
Creating things for people. This is the primal theme of probably Denmark’s most famous architect of all time: Jørn Utzon. He was educated at the Danish Royal Academy of Fine Arts, concluding in 1942 and then developed his talent further at studios such as the Alvar Aalto studio in Helsinki. This inspiration helped Jørn Utzon to gradually optimise his talent for creating architectural, organic space while maintaining respect for people, nature and surroundings.
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