The Danish Ambassador, H.E. Rasmus Kristensen, hosted guests at a reception at the official residence on 11 December. At the event, representatives from Danish furniture companies Hay and Montana featured their products in the living room of the residence.
Entirely fitted out with their unique designs, the space provided the ideal backdrop for the furniture which are designed in contemporary aesthetic but can fit a variety of environments.
Danish design is known for its smooth, clean lines and simple, timeless designs. Uniquely designed to transcend generations of style, they fit both contemporary and classic environments. Hay and Montana are two brands that are within this aesthetic.
HAY was founded in 2002 with the ambition to create contemporary furniture with an eye for modern living and sophisticated industrial manufacturing. Inspired by the stable structures of architecture and the dynamics of fashion, Hay, according to its website, notes that designers seek to produce durable quality products that provide added value for the user.
Laura Fernandez, Sales Manager for Hay noted that the “About a Chair” collection was among the brand’s best sellers. Available in 15 colours, the chair defines the brand. While Hay’s biggest Asian market is in China, it is rapidly expanding and there are plans to expand from its current B2B model to a retail environment, especially in the South East Asian market.
Expressing oneself is what the Montana brand is all about. The brand aims to provide endless opportunities to create, frame and tell personal stories through clever design and superior craftsmanship – in the home or office environment.
Santi Alaysius, Principal designer from architecture and interior design firm Domisilium Studio noted that both Hay and Montana feature timeless designs and can be used in both formal and informal settings. At the event with her colleague, architect Hamphrey Tedja, the pair explained that the modern pieces fit the contemporary aesthetic but also more classic backgrounds, adding that during an even at Milan’s Clereci Palace, the modern pieces with their clean, simple lines, blended in perfectly with the classic frescoes and 17th century tapestries.
The event also included a selection of food prepared by Michelin-starred Chef Poul Andrias Ziska from Koks restaurant in the Faroe Islands. Showcasing the region’s focus on seafood and fermented products, the evening was punctuated with a range of delightful treats. The menu included a crisp codfish skin which served rather like a base for cod tartar and watercress. There was also a tart with smoked cod roe, egg yolk and pickled radish and a celeriac gratin with fermented lamb intestines.
“We have the same traditions as Denmark,” Ziska noted about the Faroe Islands, “but the food culture is slightly different. Fermentation is one of the methods. We have warm winters, and summer is never over 12 degrees celsius, so it's like a fridge. We can ferment in our area and its unique,” he explained, adding that he will be showcasing these dishes and more at Monty’s resturant on Friday, 14 December.
