Hem opens New York City studio in an historic loft
The Stockholm-based design brand lands a New York showroom with site-specific installation by Brooklyn-based duo Chen & Kai
In just six years, the Swedish design label Hem has established itself as one of the most agile design companies for bringing future design classics directly into the homes of an international clientele. As an early adopter of the direct-to-consumer model and in applying it to the design field, Hem now offers over 400 products designed by some of the most respected design names, like Luca Nichetto, Max Lamb, Pauline Deltour and Gam Fratesi, available in 34 countries.
This week, the Stockholm-based firm celebrates a new milestone – opening a permanent space in the heart of New York’s Soho neighbourhood. Occupying a 2,500 sq ft space in an airy, historic loft, the inviting New York space joins the brand’s other presences in Stockholm and Los Angeles.
‘Our concept behind this new space is actually one of a studio, rather than a showroom,’ explains Hem’s founder Petrus Palmér. ‘Hem is a progressive company and brand. We take pride in doing things differently. We sell directly to our customers and we don’t have retailers, agents or distributors. We want to talk directly to our customers, and interact with them in a creative setting. That sounded more like a studio to us!’
He continues, ‘We see all of our permanent spaces as dynamic hubs for the respective city’s broad creative community. We want to foster a welcoming, experimental nexus for designers, artists, and architects to meet and exchange ideas. To this end, we’ve designed the New York studio so we can easily reconfigure the individual vignettes to accommodate workshops, panels, dinners and other programming throughout the year.’
In keeping with its tradition of creating special artistic pieces for its spaces, Hem has commissioned the Brooklyn-based duo Chen & Kai to create a site-specific installation for the studio. Situated at the entrance of the space, the sculptural piece, which measures nearly ten ft tall and consists of 20 mirrored panels, is named ‘The Phalanx’ after the war formations of ancient Greece.
Inspired by these age-old military typologies, Chen & Kai treated each mirrored panel individually, pouring silver nitrate over the glass to create a delicate, raw-edge visual effect on each surface. Assembled together on an easel-like scaffold, the conceptual pieces almost resembles a deconstructed skyscraper, reflecting light and colour all across the room.
‘We’ve been in dialogue with Chen & Kai for years,’ Palmér explains of the collaboration. ‘I personally think they are one of the most original and intriguing design studios in the country. Their work is quirky yet deeply authentic, and always holds a layer of story, sometimes profound, and sometimes just whimsical. We think [this piece] creates a particularly dynamic dialogue within the space and are honoured to have worked with them for this major moment for our brand.’
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
The McLaren W1 is the latest in the sports car maker's tech-saturated Ultimate Series
First F1, then P1 and now W1, McLaren Automotive reveals its latest limited-edition supercar to the world, a £2m concoction of hybrid power and active aero that is, unsurprisingly, already sold out
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Paul Rudolph at The Met: ‘from Christmas lights to megastructures’
‘Materialized Space: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph’ opens at the Met in New York, exploring the modernist master's work through a feast of an exhibition
By Stephanie Murg Published
-
‘London: Lost Interiors’ gathers unseen imagery of some of the capital’s most spectacular homes
This new monograph is a fascinating foray into the interior life of London, charting changing tastes, emerging styles and the shifting social history of grand houses in the heart of a fast-changing city
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Alessi Occasional Objects: Virgil Abloh’s take on cutlery
Best Cross Pollination: Alessi's cutlery by the late designer Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with his London studio Alaska Alaska, is awarded at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Design Miami 2022: highlights from the fair and around town
Design Miami 2022 (30 November – 4 December) aims at ‘rebooting the roots of our relationship with nature and collective structures, ecospheres, and urban contexts’
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
Salon Art + Design 2022: design highlights not to miss
Wallpaper* highlights from Salon Art + Design 2022, New York
By Tilly Macalister-Smith Last updated
-
Design Week Lagos 2022 celebrates creativity and innovation in West Africa and beyond
Curated by founder Titi Ogufere, Design Week Lagos 2022 is based on a theme of ‘Beyond The Box’
By Ugonna-Ora Owoh Last updated
-
Designart Tokyo transforms the city into a museum of creativity
Designart Tokyo presents global design highlights through a series of exhibitions involving global creative talent and traditional Japanese craft
By Danielle Demetriou Last updated
-
Nendo’s collaborations with Kyoto artisans go on view in New York
‘Nendo sees Kyoto’ is on view at Friedman Benda (until 15 October 2022), showcasing the design studio's collaboration with six artisans specialised in ancient Japanese crafts
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated
-
Tom Dixon marks his studio's 20 years with a show of design experiments
Mushroom, cork, steel coral and more: Tom Dixon showcases an overview of his design experiments as he celebrates his practice's 20 years
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Vitra unveils new London home in the Tramshed, Shoreditch
London Design Festival 2022: after a year-long renovation, Vitra opens the door to its new showroom in the heart of Shoreditch
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated