Say Hello To Menu — The Danish Brand Shaking Up Scandinavian Style
There have been many moments in the history of design that have changed the way we live. The Bauhaus School of Arts opening in 1919 was one. The arrival of all things Hygge in 2017 was another. And yet, never before has a single brand managed to weave them together. At least, not until now.
Founded in 1978, Menu is on a mission to reimagine modernism, updating the idea of form follows function with the emotion and creativity that today’s design-lovers crave. The result is a timeless collection of furniture and lighting — nostalgic in its use of classic materials but highly futuristic in its shape and feel. Join us as we take a closer look.
Reclaiming The Past
We often think of history as something that’s done and dusted. And yet if archaeology has taught us anything, it’s that the past is a puzzle we’re constantly piecing together. Part of Menu’s commitment to reimagining modernism in the present is to rediscover some of its practitioners that time forgot.
It all began with Ib Kofod-Larsen — one of the many legacy designers that left Denmark to engage with a broader, more international interpretation of modernism. While he might not have become an industry name in the same way as Hans Wegner or Arne Jacobsen, he left an indelible mark on the way contemporary homes were designed. The silhouettes he created were airy and modern, gaining a distinct richness from the quality of materials used. Teak, rosewood and leather abounded, infusing traditional Scandi minimalism with new texture and warmth.
This design language is particularly evident in the Knitting Chair. Originally designed in 1951, its svelte frame features sculpted elbow cut-outs — a revolutionary addition that sought to do away with unflattering armrests. Striking in both appearance and concept, it would go on to become a major collector’s item throughout the 50s and 60s, re-emerging once more as part of the Menu collection in 2018. This year, it’s received another update in the form of cosy sheepskin upholstery — a rich new look for this much-loved classic.
Sculptural silhouettes were also on the mind of Arthur Umanoff, an American modernist whose experiments with metal and wood would establish him as a closely-guarded secret among mid-century furniture collectors in New York.
