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Friday Five with Lars Beller Fjetland

Raised on the west coast of Norway, designer Lars Beller Fjetland honed his Scandinavian skills, always marrying his fascination of function with natural materials. In 2011 while still in school at Bergen Academy of Art and Design, Beller Fjetland set up his own office, Beller, and completed his degree the following year. Rooted in a belief that his products must, “achieve a sense of both timelessness and longevity through an immediate, honest functionalism in form and aesthetic,” while also being sustainable and sophisticated. He’s well on his way to a long-lasting career achieving just that and, in the meantime, he’s launching new designs at Tent London as part of the 100% Norway exhibition and the KHiB & Friends showcase. For this week’s Friday Five, let’s see what’s keeping this young designer inspired.

"At the San Francisco museum of art, an abstract gets close scrutiny" Photo via Life Magazine

“At the San Francisco museum of art, an abstract gets close scrutiny” Photo via Life Magazine

1. Favorite Photo
I just love this picture as it so clearly reminds me how I got into design in the first place. For me curiosity is the main source of creativity and the true driving force that propels me towards new ideas, concepts and adventures. I create things with an almost childish joy, as I’m so relieved and overjoyed to be freed from the dreaded A4 life I feared as a graduating economy student. Through my studies at Bergen Academy of Art and Design I rediscovered my long forgotten passion to create, which is as much a part of me as my very own hands and feet.

Lately I’ve been fortunate enough to get to travel to some of the most vibrant and creative cities on earth. It has left me with a lot of unforgettable moments and impressions. Even so, it is still in the least extraordinary places I make my most extraordinary discoveries.

Lars (the youngest, junior, senior)

Lars (the youngest, junior, senior)

2. Woodwork
My father and grandfather introduced me to woodwork as a child, which is as much part of our Scandinavian tradition as fishing and hiking. Being the first material I ever got to work with, it represents the very root of my ever-growing passion for designing and creating objects. Wood is an extremely versatile material, fitting an almost unbelievable range of purposes only limited by your own imagination.

F5-Lars-Beller-Fjetland-3-DIY-books

3. Old DIY books
One of my favourite pastime hobbies is to scavenge local flea markets for old DIY and craft books. I am convinced that a lot of knowledge could end up being lost in the ongoing industrialization of woodwork and other fields of craft. This is the kind of knowledge that has traditionally been passed down through generations of craftsmen, and represents centuries of trial and error. Through these books and occasional meetings with old master craftsmen I get a small glimpse into what could be a vanishing world. I believe that something old can become new again when it’s reintroduced into a society that has somehow managed to forget.

"Vidden" by Marthe Elise Stramrud

“Vidden” by Marthe Elise Stramrud

4. The “Seven mountains” surrounding Bergen
Bergen is known as “The Gateway to the Fjords of Norway” and it’s placed like a hidden gem in the centre of the infamous Seven Mountains. It is in these mountains I seek refuge when I need a timeout. A walk in this stunning scenery usually leaves me with calmness and satisfaction unmatchable by anything.

5. Vernier Caliper
The caliper is the tool I use each and every day. It is an unbelievably ingenious piece of equipment!

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.