 |
The recent passing of Åke Axelsson marks the close of one of the most enduring careers in Scandinavian design. Over the course of eight decades, Axelsson shaped a distinctly human approach to furniture and interiors, grounded in craftsmanship, longevity, and the belief that design should serve the needs of everyday life.
His furniture today exists across the full breadth of society: his armchairs in the ECOSOC chamber at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Jubilee Room at Stockholm’s Royal Palace, and furnishings in countless libraries, schools, churches, academies, museums, concert halls, art galleries, restaurants, and cafés. Many of us have sat on a chair by Åke Axelsson at some point, often without knowing it—and always comfortably.
Guided by a philosophy that prioritized comfort, repairability, and material integrity over superficial expression, Axelsson created furniture that will remain relevant across generations. This week, we honor his legacy through a selection of seating designs produced by Gärsnäs, reflecting the clarity, warmth, and thoughtful functionality that defined his work.
|
 |
 |
| FERDINAND |
| Åke Axelsson |
| The award-winning Ferdinand chair reinvigorates a classic design to create a piece inspired by elements found in the furniture of ancient Greece. Named after the protagonist in the famous children's storybook, Ferdinand the Bull, Axelsson designed this solid oak and leather armchair to be sat in for long periods of time. Ferdinand is unique in that it features self-supporting construction without hardware. |
|
 |
| WOOD |
| Åke Axelsson |
The Wood Chair was designed by Axelsson in 2009. For this design, Axelsson was driven by a desire to engineer something lightweight, flat pack and timeless, made in local beech wood, his favorite material.
Wood comes in a flat pack and takes only minutes to assemble or pack, yet remains in the premium, hand-crafted category of chairs. |
|
 |
| SONAT ARMCHAIR |
| Åke Axelsson |
| A contemporary update to Axelsson's Century chair, Sonat is a lightweight, stackable, dining chair designed with flexibility in mind. Sonat has a frame made of solid beech, an upholstered seat and back, and features perforated and sound absorbent material on the underside of the seat. |
|
 |
| NEPTUNUS |
| Åke Axelsson |
| Neptunus finds itself at the intersection between comfort and modernity. Axelsson designed Neptunus to be sophisticated, versatile, and inviting, and can easily be integrated into contemporary interiors. High quality materials and expert craftsmanship, combined with classic Scandinavian design appeal, transform this chair into a modern classic. |
|
 |
| ZEN NEW YORK ARMCHAIR |
| Åke Axelsson |
| The Zen New York Armchair represents one of the most significant late-career achievements in the work of Åke Axelsson. Developed for the Economic and Social Council chamber at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the chair was selected to replace seating that had served the historic space for more than seventy years. The design builds upon Axelsson’s earlier Zen chair, refined here for the demands of a high-profile public setting through subtle ergonomic and structural adjustments. Fully upholstered with a solid ash frame, the chair reflects the principles that defined Axelsson’s work throughout his career. |
|
|