Sea Change
In partnership with Fritz Hansen, Kinfolk absorbs the transformative power of the sea.
The Series 7 chair was designed by Arne Jacobsen in the 1955 and has been in production ever since. Jacobsen first designed the hourglass chair for the H55 exhibition in Sweden, using a pioneering method of pressure-moulding its wood veneer.
Words by John Burns. Art Direction by Staffan Sundström. Photography by Thomas Hasse Therkildsen.
Why does open water feel so replenishing? Neuroscientists and psychologists are beginning to produce data on “blue mind”—the idea that our brains are hardwired to react positively to being in, under, on or simply near water. Be it with best friends or a best-selling novel, sitting in a chair close to the sea and surrendering to the rhythmic sound of breaking waves and the soothing sea air has been proven by EEG scans to induce a mildly meditative, peaceful state.
To celebrate the launch of a refreshed color palette for Fritz Hansen’s iconic Arne Jacobsen-designed Series 7 chair, now in 16 new shades, the Kinfolk team took a stack to somewhere we would like to spend more time sitting: Klintebjerg, on the windswept shores of northern Zealand, Denmark.
As the sun sets, the chairs’ warm tones , created by legendary editor and gallerist Carla Sozzani, soften into surroundings that reflect those which inspired her—“the dark green and blue of shifting waves and sky, to the pinks and ochres of small shells and a fading seashore in twilight.”
Words by John Burns. Art Direction by Staffan Sundström. Photography by Thomas Hasse Therkildsen.
Carla Sozzani, who partnered with Fritz Hansen on the new colorways, is the founder of Milan's renowned gallery and store 10 Corso Como.
Zealand is the largest island in Denmark and home to Copenhagen. Its northern coastline offers a bracing escape from the bustle of the capital.
The warm tonality of the collection was achieved by adding a splash of red to every color.
This post was produced in partnership with Fritz Hansen.
The enduring popularity of the Series 7 chair is likely due to its rare combination of elegant design and practicality: the chairs can be stacked and stored when not in use.
