Danish by design

HAY, the Danish design brand that bills itself as providing functional answers to functional needs, has set up shop in Bangkok just in time for the festive season. It’s only a pop-up shop for now though and it’s being run by a Thai – Veekrit Palarit, a graduate in furniture design from Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, though plans are afoot to open a full-scale outlet next year when Siam Discovery completes its extensive renovation works.

Founded by designer couple Matte and Rolf Hay in 2002, the furniture brand with a modern Danish design slant has delighted the aesthetic Scandinavian sense with quality craftsmanship and humanistic design.

A decade ago, after working hard to develop new technologies and materials more flexible for urban life, the pair launched their accessories line, offering a range of products from office supplies to home decor and tableware.

In 2013 they further expanded, teaming up with acclaimed designer Sebastian Wrong to launch sister brand Wrong For Hay.

Today Hay has 14 outlets around Europe and one in Shanghai. Bangkok’s pop up outlet is in the Idea Avenue at Siam Center and while it boasts a Christmas theme, you won’t find a tree or tinsel.

Veekrit fell in love with the brand pretty well at first sight. “I saw many innovative products from different brands while studying in Milan but Hay really caught my eye. I think the brand has potential here as the designs are ideal for the Thai lifestyle,” Veekrit says.

“The designs are very Scandinavian – minimal, smart and easy to mix and match. Only the best materials are used, such as textiles from India, Nepal and Denmark, premium steel from China and ceramics from Japan.”

The pop-up corner is divided into two zones. The Exhibition area showcases a selection of the brand’s award-winning designs while the retail space has the latest collections from Copenhagen, covering everything from furniture and home decor, tableware and kitchenware to lighting and stationery. 

Lightweight, durable and functional, the furniture is mainly made from beech and steel and boasts geometric forms. There are DLM coated-steel side tables with a handle and round, rectangular and hexagonal Silt tables inspired by origami. They can be combined in 14 styles and come with a metal and mirror finish in five contemporary colours.

The stationery section includes wooden triangular rulers for three-dimensional use, Plisse folders with several inserts that resemble a flower coming into bloom, Spine notebooks with both plain and patterned pages and Kaleido steel trays in geometric shapes that nestle inside each other.

The tableware line has Paper porcelain espresso cups, mugs and saucers that look just like paper, Tela glassware and Ori salt and pepper grinders made from moulded ABS with a matt finish.

The home decor space has Mega Dot two-toned quilted and reversible bed covers, printed and embroidered cotton cushions, Pion paper table lamps and a BOX BOX Desktop set that’s ideal for keeping jewellery and knick-knacks.

  

 

IN THE FOLD

>>The Hay Christmas pop-up store is on Idea Avenue zone on the first floor of Siam Center. It runs until January 31 and is open daily from 10 to 10. 

>>Find out more at the “Norse Republic” page on Facebook.