Johan Forsberg
Forsberg Form is headed up by Swedish designer Johan Forsberg who confesses that his interest in concrete began as a hobby 15 years ago. Today, his deep understanding of the material has led Forsberg Form to become one of Sweden’s leading design companies, creating exquisitely crafted interior fittings and furniture for public and private spaces. The sand used for the concrete is from the Öresunds seabed, the stretch of water that separates Sweden and Denmark, along with granite from Tagene, and it is this blend that gives the concrete its special tone of grey. Johan Forsberg combines traditional with new and his work is subtle and refreshingly minimalist. His products are manufactured in Gothenburg but bought and exhibited around the world. As Johan himself explains, he strives to “create timeless objects of desire that will give its owner a long-term delight.”
Alexis Oehler
Alexis Oehler is a qualified industrial designer who successfully heads up Berlin based design company BetonWare. Aside of their product range, BetonWare offer design consultancy and collaborate with other established designers to explore innovative ways of incorporating concrete. The versatility in Alexis Oehler’s techniques is evident - from egg cups to kitchen sinks, the products are highly original. This talented company also specialise in bespoke counters for cafés and reception areas as well as event presentation displays, most notably for Nike and Louis Vuitton. Whatever the ultimate product, the common theme behind the process is “the poured stone” and as Alexis Oehler himself states “the diversification of concrete which is achieved by the use of special aggregates and coating substances make possible an almost poetic use of the material with respect to the way concrete is perceived.”
Jochen Korn
“Practical functionality packaged in timeless, elegant design” is the winning recipe behind award winning Jochen Korn’s company. Gaining exposure not only at home in Germany but at exhibitions in Tokyo, New York and Milan, his work epitomises the fusion of durability and style. Imaginative and tasteful yet never compromising the practical. It is the specific type of concrete that Korn has developed (highly compressed to enable a perfectly smooth texture) which is no better defined in the original “Block Series” – a chunky concrete cube forming a collection from candle holder, ashtray, egg cup and more. Jochen Korn has a wealth of experience, having studied industrial design and cabinet making at the University of Kassel, Germany. His “Extra House Numbers” won the prestigious 2010 Red Dot Design Award and is nominated for the 2012 Design Award of Germany.
22 Design Studio
22 Design Studio was created in 2005 by Sean Yu and Yiting Cheng, two industrial design graduates of Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University and it gains its name for the sole purpose of keeping alive the passion and ideals held by the young designers when they formed the company at twenty-two years old respectively. After experimenting with various materials, they discovered an innovative application of high-density concrete that allows for fine applications and it was through this journey that a series of eye-catching concrete rings were created. Sean Yu was excited to “turn the roughness of concrete into fine forms” and he openly confesses to “liking concrete because it is cheap, but through different processes, it can be very smooth and elegant”. Handcrafted with close precision and quality, the 22 brand is sharp, clean and inspiring.
stayconcrete
Following training as a carpenter and later as a joiner, Petar Ivanisevic, who grew up in New York and Berlin, initially worked as a contractor in construction organization and furniture manufacture. During this period he worked in close cooperation with architects and supported numerous art-on-site projects. In 2003 he began his first collaborative projects with concrete furniture makers – at this point his passion for concrete had definitely been awakened. The idea of manufacturing concrete furniture in series finally brought him into contact with the concrete plant Chaux de Contern (Luxembourg), where he has been employed since November 2007 as a designer for concrete furniture. At stayconcrete, Petar is in charge of production and the detailed technical implementation of the furniture concepts.
Isabelle Nöcker (Design and Sales)
Isabelle Nöcker completed training as an industrial business management assistant and studied psychology and pedagogy before ultimately changing career paths to the furnishing industry in 2003. As a furnishing consultant for designer furniture with many years of experience in Germany and Switzerland, she successfully applied her enthusiasm for architecture, art and design in creative concepts for home and office spaces. In her search for unusual materials, she came to know and love concrete. This also gave rise to the idea of manufacturing high-quality concrete furniture in series. Isabelle has been developing the designs of stayconcrete since 2007, combining appealing aesthetics with a high degree of functionality. In addition, she creates the furnishing concepts and is in charge of organizing sales, marketing and fairs and exhibitions.
Concrete Home Design
After studying Fine Art at the Université Paris-Sorbonne, Clément Terreng moved to Florence where he gained experience in the restoration techniques of fresco and wall painting. Hamburg-born Hana Hipp completed an apprenticeship in Woodwork and further extended her studies in Florence where she learned to restore and conserve wooden objects and furniture. Hana and Clément settled in Hamburg in 2007 where their fascination for concrete began and when they embarked on perfecting their own recipe of the material. On the strength of unveiling a successful range of products in the German market in 2011, Concrete Home Design was launched. CHD continue to push the boundaries to create highly individual and unique design items for the living and working environment.