It didn’t take long for a new Scandi-word to enter the English lexicon after the inevitable backlash against the Danish ‘hygge’. Enter the Swedish celebration of moderation, ‘lagom’. You can find it in the monochrome of Swedish fashion just as readily as you can find it in the pared back interiors of Swedish design.

It’s funny then, that interior design store Svenskt Tenn is such a cultural institution in Stockholm. Even if a box of matches is the only thing you can afford from the place, you’d have to be a real killjoy not to enjoy a browse of the bold and beautiful prints.
Of the several eye-catching patterns, it’s architect and designer Josef Frank’s (1885-1967) work that is perhaps the most recognisable. If you asked someone to list a handful of Svenskt Tenn’s prints, Frank’s tulips or map of Manhattan will inevitably be included.
This March, Arkitektur och Designcentrum have taken the opportunity to explore Frank’s legacy not only as a designer, but as an architect too. And, as the exhibition title suggests, visitors will learn just what made Frank’s work so unconventional in the first place.

Josef Frank – ‘Against Design’ at Arkitektur och Designcentrum
Opens Mar 10