“Quality is a funny concept. We tend to think of it as being associated with handcraft. But quality is also about your attitude toward design. Craftsmanship is just as much about how you run the machines that are now necessary for economic viability.”
– Niels Bendtsen
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Owner of Inform Interiors and Bensen Manufacturing, Niels Bendtsen has been working with contemporary furniture all his life. In 1963, he opened his first retail store in West Vancouver, Danet Interiors, focusing on well-designed and well-crafted Danish modern furniture. He designed the Ribbon chair, which was accepted into the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York._
This past weekend, contemporary furniture took New York by storm with the help of ICFF and Bensen was there to be apart of it all. Above, left to right, U Trek, About Face, Index, and Canyon sectional. Click here to visit Bensen’s website. Click here to see Bensen products on informshop.com.
The Bensen booth at ICFF 2010.
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The Ribbon Chair, designed by Niels in 1975.
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The new Inform showroom in Gastown, designed by Niels along side the renowned designer/architect Omer Arbel. Exterior photo taken by Jonathan Cruz. Interior photo by Joshua Dunford of Burnkit.
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Bensen head offices and the future home of informprojects(above left), a small portion of the workshops at the Bensen factory(above right).
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Niels was gracious enough to answer a few questions for this post.
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Inform: What inspires new designs of yours?
Niels: Many different things, sometimes just walking down the street an idea will come to me. Often I see a need to be filled. Other times it’s like a light bulb goes off and an idea will come out of nowhere.
I: Who do you respect in the design industry?
N: I’m a big fan of Grcic and Jasper Morrison but in many ways, my favorite is Antonio Citterio.
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I: What is your favourite piece of all time?
N: It’s always changing but right now, I recently bought an original Metropolitan chair(image) by Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen, from 1959 and love it.
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I: What advice would you give to an aspiring furniture designer?
N: Find a different profession(laughs), it’s not an easy job. I think that there is a lot of competition and very knowledgeable people in the industry but that being said, there’s always room for something special.
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Niels often designs pieces for Montis, a furniture manufacturer from the Netherlands. Above is Intu, Turner, Colombo, and the Mick stool. Click here to visit Montis’ official website. Click here to shop for Montis on informshop.com.
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Ella & Mila chairs for Montis on display at Salone del Mobile in Milan, this year.
Niels seems to always have projects in the works. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and sign up for our email newsletter for full coverage of what is happening at Inform and Bensen.
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– Post by Michael Y.