Kvadrat was established in Denmark in 1968 and has deep roots in Scandinavia’s world famous design tradition.
Hallingdal was designed by Nanna Ditzel in 1965. Since when it has become as famous for its durability as for its rich colour palette.
In celebration of its first and most iconic textile, Hallingdal 65, Kvadrat invited, under the curatorial guidance of Patrizia Moroso & Giulio Ridolfo, seven international curators to select design talents from seven key regions. The open brief presented each curator with the task of selecting designers that would reinterpret the classic textile, developed more than 45 years ago, in a modern context.
Special projects such as Kvadrat’s celebration of Hallingdal 65 create an important platform for emerging designers to confront and test innovative ideas with a realistic feasibility for a prospective market. The textile is deployed like a body skin, a covering cloth, a wrap or a simple decoration; in any case like a tactile element with its physical output revealing new intrepretations and surprising ideas to revalue this material
Shown in the Jil Sander showroom, Milan
The curators and designers selected to reinterpret the iconic textile include:
– For the United Kingdom, Tord Boontje: Fredrikson Stallard, Simon Hasan, Glithero
– For The Netherlands and Belgium, Ilse Crawford: Philippe Malouin, delangeléon
– For Southern Europe, Constance Rubini: Pauline Deltour, Benjamin Graindorge, Constance Guisset, Jean-Baptiste Fastrez, François Mangeol, Ionna Vautrin, Martín AzÚa Studio, Martí Guixé, Mermeladaestudio, Miguel Vieira Baptista
– For Scandinavia, Søren Rose: Henrik Tjærby, David Taylor, Sofie BrÜnner, Mads Hjort, Studio Greiling, Front
– For Asia, Andre Fu: smallprojects, Ministry of Design
– For Germany, Austria and Switzerland, Hans Maier-Aichen: mischer’traxler studio, Adrien Rovero, Katrin Sonnleitner, Bless
– For the USA, Jeffrey Bernett: Jonah Takagi, Jonathan Olivares, Todd Bracher, Stephen Burks Patrizia Moroso and Giulio Ridolfo have been responsible for the executive curation of the pieces that will be exhibited in Milan.
Hallingdal has been continually produced by Kvadrat since the company was established. To this day, it remains one of the best selling textiles of the Kvadrat collection.
The very durable upholstery fabric was originally designed in 1965 by Nanna Ditzel, and is now available in a version with an updated colour scale: Hallingdal 65. The fabric comes in 58 colourways. Many of the colours are drawn from the original colour scale, including the 22 new shades, which have been ‘rediscovered’
Hallingdal 65 is made of wool and viscose, which are the perfect complement to each other: the wool provides excellent durability and flexibility, whilst the viscose adds brilliance and depth to the colour. Both materials are dyed before they are spun, which highlights the rich texture of the fabric.
It has been great working together with the curators and the group of designers. The curators have selected a varied and convincing group of emerging talent, and the designers have been very creative in applying Hallingdal in their installations and design pieces, giving the exhibition an interesting depth.’ …. Anders Byriel, CEO of Kvadrat.
Nanna Ditzel is known as one of Denmark’s great designers. Her work has been exhibited all over the world and recognised with many awards.
After designing Hallingdal – Kvadrat’s first product – Nanna Ditzel designed many other colourful curtain and upholstery fabrics for the company.
During her career, she worked with many of Denmark’s most famous designers, including Arne Jacobsen, Børge Mogensen, Hans Wegner and Verner Panton. Aside from Kvadrat, she also worked with many other leading design companies, such as Fredericia Furniture, Brdr. Krüger, PP Møbler, Bonacina, Getama, Habitat and Georg Jensen.
