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Carl Hansen & Son: The FK63 Bookcase System + the RF1903 Sideways Sofa

03.22.21 | By
Carl Hansen & Son: The FK63 Bookcase System + the RF1903 Sideways Sofa

It’s always exciting when Carl Hansen & Søn releases new collections, with the latest being the FK63 Bookcase System and the RF1903 Sideways Sofa. Functionality, flexibility, materiality and sustainability are the guiding forces behind these new furniture designs.

shelving in interior space

Danish designers Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm are the visionaries behind the design of the flexible, timeless FK63 Bookcase System. Consisting of square modules in two depths, the bookcase can be hung on the wall or sit on the floor. The shelves can also be rotated to be oriented either tall or wide. Combine the various modular pieces – shelves, drawers and doors – to create a personalized bookshelf that’s uniform and grid-like, or a more abstract, freeform version. The minimal design pays homage to craftsmanship traditions by highlighting beautiful mortise joints, a key element in the design.

The FK63 Bookcase System is made of solid oak, with the exception of the drawers that are ash, at Carl Hansen & Søn’s factory in Denmark. It takes hours of joinery work, sanding the mortise joints and precisely installing the doors before it’s ready to ship.

shelving in interior space

Thomas Kastholm, son of Jørgen Kastholm, says, “We had the bookcase system in my childhood home, and I loved the sound that the doors made when my parents opened them. The discreetly mounted ball catches produce a gentle clicking sound which I loved – the effect was similar to that of the sound of a door closing on a luxury car.”

The elegant and flexible FK63 Bookcase System offers countless possibilities for creating the perfect bookcase for homes, offices, hotels and other public spaces.

shelving in interior space

shelving in interior space

shelving in interior space

shelving detail

shelving detail

shelving detail

shelving detail

two sofas

The RF1903 Sideways Sofa combines classic materials with an asymmetric shape to serve a clear purpose: “Communication is being challenged by tablets and other digital devices, so I wanted to make a sofa where it feels more natural for people to talk to each other,“ explains the designer, Rikke Frost. “Many sofas require you to sit straight and turn your head to the side instead of turning to face each other. I wanted to create a sofa where you sit sideways as this encourages more natural conversation.”

sofa

The sofa features a steam-bent backrest and organically shaped cushioning that forms two seats. The low backrest is made of solid wood and woven paper cord for an aesthetically pleasing look, while the seat and back are upholstered to create a very comfortable piece of furniture.

Fun fact: It took Rikke Frost just three weeks to design the sofa’s prototype as part of Danmarks Radio’s TV program ‘Denmark’s Next Classic’, where the sofa took first place in its category!

overhead photo of sofa

sofa detail

sofa

back of sofa

sofa

sofa

back of sofa

>>> To shop select Carl Hansen and Søn pieces, head to the Design Milk Shop here! <<<

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.