Today, Josef Frank (1885-1967) got his own memorial in the district of Gärdet in Stockholm. His design is now part of the Swedish public sphere! ‘All places where we can feel at home are caused by the coincidences’, he said. That also goes for this site, located opposite the street door of what was architect and designer Josef Frank’s home during most of his life. He was the son of a jewish textile merchant from Vienna who fell in love with a Swedish girl and became – with the words of Ann Wall, former CEO of Svenskt Tenn – World War II’s gift to Sweden.
The symbol of his artistry is a typical Frank-design; anno 1925, two chairs of model 2025 (see bottom left below). The chairs are now stationed on the sidewalk, firmly anchored in the ground. Set in an angle as if they were involved in a conversation, offering bypassers to sit down. However, they are not made of wood and rattan (as the original), but in sand-cast bronze.
Josef Frank’s Place – A public tribute to the father of the Scandinavian (Swedish Modern) interior design style. Installed May 17 th 2010.
