Anderssen & Voll

• FURNITURE & PRODUCT DESIGN •

A

small country like Norway must
focus on its distinctive character
and quality,” wrote Turid Birkeland,
Norwegian Minister of Culture
from 1996–97 (Design from Norway,
World Pictures’ Publications). “We must
believe that the story that lies in the
object, the furniture, the house, tells
who we are and what we believe.” Before
founding their eponymous company in
2009, Torbjørn Anderssen and Espen Voll
comprised two-thirds of Norway Says,
which they co-founded with Andreas
Engesvik in 2002, having initially

Norwegian designers Torbjørn

Anderssen and Espen Voll established

their eponymous design company in

2009, creating forward-thinking products

that both expand on and break tradition.

Words by Colin Martin

collaborated as a trio in 1999. They helped

put Norwegian design on the same page

as Finnish, Danish and Swedish design.

Torbjørn and Espen’s enviable track

records, in gaining design awards and

in attracting prestigious manufacturing

clients, jointly recognize their talents

as contemporary designers and their

business nous. They have been named

both as Norwegian and Scandinavian

designers of the year. Collaborating Nordic

manufacturers include Muuto, Kvadrat,

Erik Jørgensen, Wrong for Hay, Jøtul, Røros

Tweed and LK Hjelle; and client Italian

companies include Magis, Foscarini and

La Palma. Their series of sofa designs for

the Scandinavian furniture manufacturer

Muuto cover multiple possible uses. The

Outline Sofa series is characterized by its

strong architectonic form and its visual

lightness, well suited to classic and modern

interiors. It was initially marketed in

2011 as a two-seater sofa for domestic

sitting rooms, and as a shorter, slimmer

studio version designed for smaller urban

apartments, hotel rooms and lobbies, and

a three-seater was added to the series in

2016. The Outline sofas are complemented
      by a single-seater Outline chair, also
      availableinstandardandstudioversions.
      Although the Anderssen and Voll
      website expounds the duo’s design
      philosophy,itisreiteratedmoreclearly
      on several other design websites: “A good
      productbuildsandexpandsontradition
      but at the same time, it breaks with
      tradition. Change and elements of surprise
      stimulatesthoughtandreflection–even
      for people who are not very interested
      indesignandevenifthechangeisnot
      radical. That tiny second of reflection is
      thewindowofopportunitywherewecan
      communicate with the users and that is
      what we are looking for.” Working with
      four permanent staff and one to three
      interns, in an historic building dating
      from 1802 in central Oslo, Torbjørn
      and Espen design goods in which they,
      collaborating manufacturers and design-
      savvy consumers can believe, meeting Turid
      Birkeland’s criterion for good design.
      anderssen-voll.com

01

STUDIO

03

02

04

02 The Lofoten throw

for Røros Tweed.

03 The Tibu stool for Magis

is adjustable in height;

its circular seat and

footrest combine to form

a single shape, echoed

by the base.

04 The earthenware Herb

Pots for Mjölk have a

terracotta glaze and a

lip-like opening near

their base to handle

excess water.

01 Designers Espen Voll

and Torbjørn Anderssen,

pictured with the outline

sofa for Muuto.