Design inspiration can come from just about anywhere. In the case of Jonas Lyndby Jensen’s final project at The Danish Design School, the inspiration came from a gourmet restaurant, Noma in Copenhagen. One can assume that if the meal was that stimulating, the restaurant is worthy of accolade. And seeing as Copenhagen is at the top of my “travel destinations” queue (currently at a stand-still due to financial constraints), Noma has now made my “places to eat” list.

Nordic chair. Designed by Jonas Lyndby Jensen.

The restaurant uses all Nordic ingredients prepared in different, non-Nordic ways. Jensen was interested in seeing if this approach could be relevant (and successful) in furniture as well. His Nordic Furniture uses Nordic materials to both built on and renew the Nordic Furniture tradition (rather than simply following it). His material choices, for the chair in particular, are rather unusual. The table, built entirely from smoked oak wood, is an organic shaped plate with three legs. The chair’s base is also smoked oak wood but the seat and back utilize woven horse hair and salmon leather. The table and chairs are based on classic furniture archetypes produced using new technologies. The back of the chair is a clear example of this approach: a thin, double curved shell of fiberglass upholstered with salmon skin.

Nordic table and chairs. Designed by Jonas Lyndby Jensen.

Nordic table. Designed by Jonas Lyndby Jensen.

Nordic chair. Designed by Jonas Lyndby Jensen.

Nordic table and chairs. Designed by Jonas Lyndby Jensen.

Jonas Lyndby Jensen is a qualified cabinet maker interested in materials and style of Nordic origin. He studied at the Danish Design School in Copenhagen from 2003 until 2009 and his work has been showcased at several exhibitions in Stockholm, Malmö and Copenhagen. Jonas has won awards for his Mjölner, Yacht and Valet plate furniture designs. If you’ve heard of him before, it is likely due to the chair Dune, his first item to go into mass production.  This lounge chair, made of fiberglass and oak, received a great deal of attention and is now being manufactured by Skandiform AB.