MALTE GORMSEN

For cabinetmaker Malte Gormsen wood is a living thing, to be treasured and treated with the utmost respect. “We don’t just look at furniture, we touch it,” says Gormsen of his craft, combining traditional carpentry methods with modern technology. Working with Norm Architects over many years he has found a collaborator whose belief system aligns with his, prioritising the nurturing of human senses and balancing richness with restraint. Copenhagen-based Norm merges Scandinavian traditions with an international perspective in a practice spanning architecture, interiors and product design. Together they developed a range of bespoke furniture that draws on Danish rural culture and references to the centuries-old wood tradition. The pieces are a testament to Gormsen’s belief that successful design must draw you in. “While its ability to seamlessly integrate into a given interior is of obvious importance, its capability to stand alone as a sculpture and invite investigation is what truly motivates their way of working.” The MG210 wooden dining table, presented in Ark Kollekt 01, is a sculptural and elegant piece made from Danish beech, a bright reddish hard wood grown in rotation of 100-130 years and considered Denmark’s national tree.

Portrait by Sandie Lykee