tray with the new marble pattern by monica förster and björn kusoffsky (limited edition of 50)

swedish designer monica förster and björn kusoffsky have been invited to create their personal interpretation of svenskt tenn – a historic design company with an interior design shop in stockholm, founded in 1924 by estrid ericson, who recruited josef frank to the company 10 years later. using the original pattern marble 4420 by josef frank as a starting point, they have applied it to a series of products and used it in a video installation, shown at svenskt tenn’s temporary store – a former cinema house ‘astoria’ in the center of stockholm. svenskt tenn concurrently reintroduces the marble textile theme printed on velvet.

the marble 4420 pattern, which is radically different from the typical frank flowery patterns of svenskt tenn, is said to have been sketched when josef frank had encountered the art of jackson pollock, during this stay in new york in the 1940s. monica förster and björn kusoffsky have created a 3D installation with handmade artifacts and a film which explores the depths of josef frank’s world of patterns.

‘this collaboration lets us experience how two of the most fascinating designers of our time combines today’s technology and creativity, making josef frank’s patterns come to life,’ says thommy bindefeld, marketing manager at svenskt tenn. ‘the choice of film as a medium followed quite naturally from the fact that svenskt tenn now has a temporary location in a former cinema house.’

film reintroduces the marble 4420 pattern

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 2

in addition to the objects included in the exhibition, monica förster and björn kusoffsky have also created a tray and a flower table, a limited edition for svenskt tenn. the former cinema stage was used for product display, whilst in the background the film was played on the actual cinema screen.

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 3 image © designboom

svenskt tenn furniture and textile collections are displayed within the former cinema hall’s seating area.

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 4 former cinema hall image © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 5 trays with the new marble pattern and couture animals (owl, hippopotamus and penguin) with original josef frank pattern marble in velvet image © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 6 pleates with the new marble pattern created by monica förster and björn kusoffsky image © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 7 marble plates (made from carrara marble) and stone shaped wooden boxes image © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 8 stackable flowertables in metall and cherrywood image © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 9 monica förster and björn kusoffsky portrait © designboom

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 10 original pattern marble 4420 by josef frank

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 11 velvet pillow case with marble 4420 pattern by josef frank

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 12 velvet pillow case with marble 4420 pattern by josef frank

svenskt tenn: monica förster and björn kusoffsky created new marble 4420 pattern - 13 the former cinema house astoria is the temporary home of the svenskt tenn store image © designboomthe exhibition takes place at a former cinema house in the center of stockholm, where svenskt tenn will be based until september, while the strandvägen store is being redesigned and expanded.

credits installation, graphics, film and objects by björn kusoffsky, lisa fleck/stockholm design lab and monica förster, joel hesselgren, chia-wei lin, anne-cecile pally/monica förster design studio

film motion graphic designer mika pollack music by nina kinnert remix by mika pollack objects woodwork by sabine renner couture by sofia norbeck