78 TAF STUDIO

TAF STUDIO

79

Gabriella Lenke and Mattias Ståhlbom are free thin-

kers. In their work with interiors and product design they

continually challenge traditional definitions.

Asked to describe the work of TAF Studio, they

speak of “spatial design.” It’s a good description of the

studio’s approach to projects.

“The spatial thinking and the products cross-fertilise

each other,” says Gabriella.

As an example, she mentions Museum NM&.045

– the shelf designed by TAF Studio for Sweden’s

Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, which is produced and

sold by String Furniture.

“Nationalmuseum went through a monumental

metamorphosis before reopening in 2018,” says Mattias.

“In collaboration with four other agencies, we won the

assignment to design the interior of the museum’s

restaurant and its adjoining café.”

They created new designs for every part of the interior.

In addition, they wanted everything to be produced in

Sweden or Scandinavia. The result was not only a new

interior but a range of new products, each made for a

specific purpose.

One of the museum’s requirements was that the

interior should make room for selected small objects

from the collection. The result was a console shelf

named NM&.045 that would later be put into production

by String Furniture. Besides being both beautiful and

easily placed with its hidden attachment, the delicately

shaped construction in aluminum and steel makes the

shelf exceptionally strong.

“The shelf had to hold everything from vases to

figurines and sculptures,” says Gabriella. “We wanted

to create the feeling that the museum wall reaches out

toward you, like the palm of a hand presenting the art.”

Like all good ideas the thought seems natural,

lookingintherear-viewmirror.Buthowwasitconceived?

The success of Museum NM&.045 inspired TAF

Studio to create the free-standing, height-adjustable

Museum Sidetable, introduced by String Furniture

in 2020.

Despite its name, the Museum Sidetable didn’t

originate from Nationalmuseum, but from the Swedish

interior design store Svenskt Tenn.

One of Sweden’s most influential design stores,

Svenskt Tenn is internationally acclaimed for the work

of Josef Frank, who fled Austria and moved to

Sweden in the 1930s. The furniture and furnishings he

created are today considered iconic pieces of Swedish

Modern design.

When TAF Studios was invited to create an exhibition

in the store, they decided to highlight Frank’s floral fabrics,

using fresh cut flowers and green plants.

“Our vision included having tables with big vases

filled with flowers,” says Mattias. “So we needed a strong

table, with a balanced character that wouldn’t outshine

the objects put upon it.”

This is where TAF Studio’s experience from the

Nationalmuseum project came in handy. Soon the

Museum Sidetable was born. Its rectangular, die cast

aluminum top has softly rounded corners, and the base

provides stability without being too heavy to move when

necessary. An I-beam connects the two horizontal

elements, making the sidetable rigid enough not to

twist due to a heavy load. It also makes a perfect central

pillar for the table top, which is adjustable between

32 and 73 centimetres.

“A fairly small table with adjustable height can be

used in numerous ways,” says Gabriella. “It can serve

as a pedestal for beautiful objects, an extra table by

the sofa, or a bedside table that’s just right for putting a

cup of tea and something to read within perfect reach.

Since the post isn’t centred, you can slide the base in

under the bed so the upper surface can be right by

your side.”

Gabriella and Mattias are proud to have created

designs that dovetail with the legacy of String Furniture

– high quality pieces that are easy to ship and simple

to assemble.

The String

®

shelf system earned a place in the

Nationalmuseum’s collection many years ago, and has

been part of countless exhibitions ever since. It seems

appropriate that Museum NM&.045 – the youngest

member of the String Furniture family – has already been

selected twice by the museum. Once as an example

of excellent contemporary design, but also as an

important part of the interior of the museum’s restaurant

and café. There it reaches out like the palm of a hand to

present pieces of art to visitors from all over the world.

ABOUT TAF STUDIO. FOUNDED IN STOCKHOLM

IN 2002, TAF STUDIO IS RUN BY GABRIELLA

LENKE AND MATTIAS STÅHLBOM. THE DUO,

ARE INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND PRODUCT

CONCEPT DESIGNERS, CREATED THE SHELF

MUSEUM NM&.045 AND THE MUSEUM SIDETABLE

FOR STRING FURNITURE.