The Spike chair is unique in shape. The seat and seat back are fashioned from a number of rods, like a bed of nails, which collectively mimic the curve of a body. The base of the chair is made of tubular steel, welded together with a three-millimetre steel base plate. The upper section is made of turned ash components.
Alexander Lervik gained inspiration for his new chair during a trip to the Philippines."One day it poured with rain. Raining stair rods, as they say, and that's exactly how it was. The shafts of rain resembled slanted lines and in that rain I suddenly saw the outlines of Spike in front of me," says Alexander.
He had long intended creating a follow-up to Red Chair (2005) when the image of Spike suggested itself in the rain on the Philippines. Spike, like its predecessor, will only be sold in a limited edition. It is not suited to mass production due to its unique shape, but, as with Red Chair, should be seen as an artistic object for those interested in design.
"There is a sense of freedom in being inspired by the rain, seeing a shape and working from that. Otherwise I have to take into account stackability, weight and other practical elements that are essential in a mass-produced product. I believe that the total freedom of projects like Spike makes me a better designer of commercial products," says Alexander.
To make the chair ergonomic it was necessary for the rods to be produced in a number of different shapes. The 60 rods vary in length, with 30 different sizes in total.
"I wanted to create a sculptural chair with a strong graphic identity. It was a challenge to make Spike comfortable despite its distinctive appearance," says Alexander.
Spike is to be sold in a limited edition of ten via Gallerie Pascale. It will be unveiled at Gallerie Pascale on Tuesday 5 February, from 6pm.
Address: Humlegårdsgatan 15
La lumière au chocolat lamp, unlike other lamps, is completely dark when you first turn it on, mimicking light spreading along the horizon at sunrise. The heat from the lamp causes the chocolate to begin melting, and it takes several minutes for the first rays of light to penetrate. Holes soon form and as the light grows the chocolate melts. The material and structure of the lamp are the result of pure curiosity. Alexander Lervik wanted to explore the possibility of creating a contrast to light, i.e. dark. The shape of the lamp has been devised based on extensive testing involving the melting process.
"The lamp was initially cube-shaped, but once we determined how chocolate melts together we modified the shape to resemble a cut-off pyramid," says Alexander.
After roughly 15 minutes the chocolate has melted down and then solidifies into chunks.
"I find it poetic, with complete darkness at first and then a tiny ray of light penetrates the dark chocolate," says Alexander.
La lumière au chocolat lamp forms part of the Lervik 100 range.
The basic design of the Lucy folding table derives from a long-standing fascination with the construction of folding legs and how this can be developed further.
"The penny suddenly dropped one day. The S-shaped clip was the solution for my folding table," says Alexander Lervik.
Lervik's insight resulted in a solution where the folding leg is adjustable and locks in both folded and unfolded position. This is possible as one section of the folding leg remains in the locked position, while the other can be manually transferred into a clip. The legs are locked in standing position by their own force. The solution is an innovation, but it actually came about by chance:
"I wanted to create a really attractive table that didn't pay attention to practical requirements. That was how the idea for folding legs cropped up, as they are stylistically pure in shape. The whole thing finished up with me having designed a smart folding table based on beauty rather than practicality," explains Alexander.
The range of applications for the Lucy folding table is numerous. From conference and function rooms to flexible modern workplaces:
"I believe that folding tables like Lucy will be used more and more. You simply set up the table when you have numerous people in the office, and fold it up again once your project is finished," says Alexander.
The shape of the Madison bistro-style table is a response to a practical problem:
Furniture producer Johanson Design wanted to reduce volumes for transport and commissioned Alexander Lervik to come up with a table that could be packed flat without sacrificing on stability or quality.
"I deliberately made the table extremely simple and stylistically pure so that it would fit into as many settings as possible – offices, cafés, restaurants and conference rooms," says Alexander.
Alexander Lervik will be launching his Nothamn lamp range for Belid at Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair. The range consists of floor, table, bedside and desk lamps as well as a pendulum and ceiling model. Alexander drew inspiration for this range from a quarry in the village of Nothamn where he spends summers with his family:
"The very first time I visited Nothamn I was struck by the distinctive shapes that mark the thousands of rocks along that stretch of coast. When I began sketching the Nothamn range, the rocks at Nothamn popped up as inspiration," says Alexander.
He initially developed the Nothamn range for the Nordic Sea Hotel in Stockholm in 2011, when handling the interior design for the 367 hotel rooms and the lobby. The range was so well-received that Alexander and Belid developed additional models, and these will now be made available to a wider audience through Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair.
Nest pendulum light fitting
"I wanted to spread light over the table instead of simply using a thin LED strip, hence the particular shape of the lamp, which is also characteristic of the NEST range," says Alexander Lervik.
The shape of the lamp, a cluster of wooden rods, is inspired by Villa Nest, designed by Alexander Lervik on an island off Stockholm.
Inspiration has been drawn from the Bird's Nest arena in Beijing and then adapted for the island's summer visitors, the birds.
New LED technology. The building is solar-powered, so low energy consumption is important.
Ash wood.
Ask is a wooden LED spotlight for integration into ceilings. The fitting is designed in two parts: an installation cup, recessed into the ceiling plaster, and the actual spotlight, secured to the cup by means of magnets.
"I was commissioned to design a recessed spotlight for a private home and wanted to break up the monotony of the white plaster ceiling. The wood also creates a pleasing lighting effect," says Alexander Lervik.
Alexander Lervik, together with designer Johan Carpner, designed the Jeahna tent lamp, which was exhibited at Stockholm Design week 2012. This year producer Zero will be launching the lamp in three sizes, between 1.5 and 4 metres in diameter. Despite its size the lamp takes only ten minutes to assemble, from delivery in canvas bag to working lamp.
"We saw a picture of a tent lit up at night and realised that a tent structure must be the optimum textile solution for an outdoor lamp. And that's how Jeahna was born," says Alexander.
He and Carpner collaborated with Hilleberg the Tentmaker on construction. Jeahna can withstand sun, wind, wet and cold conditions, and is ideal for gardens and courtyards. Together with Zero they have developed various light fittings for Jeahna – offering everything from general white light to controlled RGB effects.
A chair for lounge, hotel rooms, restaurant or conference environments. Bubble-chair is made in moulded wood and a upholstered seat.
Design Alexander Lervik 2010
In collaboration with Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair we have created a selection of jewellery accessories thru the space age technique of 3D printing.
The selection incorporates light and shape. In the creative collaboration between Alexander Lervik and VAVE S:R focus has been on creating a dramatic look thru light and shade and to find new interesting collisions of material and shapes.
A fantastic experience for us that us that ended in a beautiful jewellery collection in gold, silver, and white.
As the name suggests, Reform is variable; you can in effect create your very own version, but the most unique thing about it is actually the construction. While other system sofas are based on the idea of adding and combining different modules, Reform starts with a common base that is adapted to your requirements. Alexander Lervik came up with the idea several years ago.
"I had the idea of building a sofa system in the same way as different car models, starting with an identical base component," says Alexander.
The Reform system is probably the most flexible sofa system on the market. You can choose between high and low backs, with or without armrests, laptop tables, or breaking up your row of seats with a screened phone compartment. It is also possible to vary the fabric and colour of each segment.
Producer Johanson Design has developed an easy-to-use computer program for architects and customers to enable them to simply build their own version of Reform.
Despite its thin, lightweight feel Reform offers comfortable sprung seats. At the same time the system has been designed to stand up to extreme environments; it can be seen, among other places, in Viking Line's new ferry terminal in Turku.
Easy chair for lounge habitat. An advanced moulding technique has made this particular chair possible: the seat and back rest are both moulded two-ways. The chair is an inspiration from the classic designs of the fifties. Choose between veneered,aluminium, stainless steel lacquered or upholstered.
Design Alexander Lervik 2005
A chair for lounge, restaurants or conference environments. EYE chair is upholstered and avalible in many different fabric and leathers.
Design Alexander Lervik 2011
Upholstered chair for lounge or conference environments. The chair is a part of the Jefferson furniture range with a characteristic conformity that ties the products together. The chair has three different supportive chassis: centre piece stand; four legged stand; four legged stand with wheels. Choose between chromium or silver lacquered metal.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
The nest furniture range is constructed with a strong design identity using the metal part to combine the legs and the seat. The same part is used for tables, lounge chair and the restaurant chair.
Bar chair for private spaces, offices and restaurants. An advanced moulding technique has made this particular chair possible: the seat and back rest are both moulded in rubber. Frame in steel
Design Alexander Lervik 2007
Chair made from seven lacquered steel sticks. The red chair was originally shown in the “Five playful chairs” exhibition in 2005. The red chair is made in a limited edition of ten chairs totally and has been acquired by the prestigious Nationalmusem in Stockholm and The Röhsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts in Gothenburg.
Design Alexander Lervik 2005
A stacking chair in pressed felt. The first ideas concerning Rib grew out of a thought of a stacking chair with a strong graphic touch. Very soon I decided about the billowing seat then for a long while I looked around for the right material to use. The choice of felt gives Rib a unique character. Also the making of the chair makes it special as the stand is mounted underneath, within the felt material. Rib was awarded Best in Show, Forum +1 at the Stockholm furniture fair 2009 and "Best of the Best" at 100%design in Rotterdam 2009.
The collection is composed out of unique pieces of glass that Alexander made in collaboration with Kosta Boda. The technique of putting a glass mass on top of blown glass in this way was not used before at Orrefors/Kosta Boda.
A replica of the designer's brain, originated from an MR scan at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. The image was processed through a 3D-printer, and became this unusual lamp shade design. Yes, it is bright. MYBrain is represented at the Röhsska Museum of Design and Decorative Arts in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Design Alexander Lervik 2007
Brighthandle, the luminous door handle that communicates with coloured light, was first launched at the Furniture Fair in Milano in 2001. It received great response, and almost a thousand people from 43 countries showed interest in purchasing the door handle. Brighthandle was awarded “Hardware product of the year” by an American magazine and featured in magazines all over the world.
In the fall of 2001, a company, Brighthandle AB, was formed by Alexander Lervik and Fredrik Arnander to further develop and sell the doorhandle. In July 2006, the company were sold to Assa Abloy, the largest lock producer in the world. The doorhandle is now launched in Europe and the USA .
Design Alexander Lervik 2000
Sense Light Swing is a light fixture that is also a moving, eye-catching work of art that works well even in large spaces. The shape of the fixture comes from a hanging swing for children; Alexander Lervik´s concept for Sense Light Swing was created, after all, for the 2005 show “Five Playful Chairs´.
The seat of the swing, made from transparent acrylic, is lit from within by a strip of high-powered LEDs.
Sense Light Swing creates a spectacular light show as it swings back and forth on its long hanging cords. Sense Light Swing has garnered large amounts of attention in the international media ever since its prototype phase.
Seat dimensions: width 550 mm, depth 200 mm. Source of illumination: LED.
Traditional lamp design meet LED technology. The shade lights up and offers the impression of an ordinary lamp. But inside there's nothing. No light bulb, no materials, nothing. Only darkness. Surroundend by light.
Design Alexander Lervik 2007
Here's an entire door that says yes or no with green and red. The light switches as you lock or unlock. By using the Brighthandle technology with a building's safety system leads to an ultimate combination of functionality and design. The Brightdoor is constructed in a special plastic surface which efficiently spreads the light.
Design Alexander Lervik 2007
The hanger was designed during a inspiration trip around Asia.
One of the main impressions from the visit was all the advertising signs in, for example Bangkok, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Made in lacquered metal.
Design Alexander Lervik 2006
Made out of brand new LED technology, this pipe has an outer shell that will light up, but an inner tube that stays pitch black. Except for a light projection of a tiny dancer. Of course.
Design Alexander Lervik 2006
Light art in four different rooms at the hospital in Karlstad, Sweden. The concept focus is birds in different variations, all with light inside, from small birds in glass from Orrefors/ kostaboda to big birds in plastic that are over three meters in width.
Design Alexander Lervik 2010
Alexander Lervik interprets the feeling of being on the move in a new lobby installation at Nordic Light Hotel. During the winter, Nordic Light Hotel’s lobby will be transformed into a hub for arrivals and departures. The installation will open in connection with Stockholm Design Week 2010. From 8 February until April, industry folk and the general public will be able to experience the flight and travel-inspiring installation, which alludes to the baggage that we carry with us.
”I’m very proud and regard this opportunity to be seen at Nordic Light Hotel during Stockholm Design Week as a challenge. I have always been fascinated by the hotel milieu and I wanted to create an exhibition that links us to the physical setting. The hotel is a temporary home when you’re on the move. At the same time it’s a venue for new meetings between people, each with their own story and personal situation in their baggage,” says Alexander Lervik.
The installation is being constructed in partnership with Johanson Design, Finnish SAAS Instruments and Belgian Dark.
Alexander Lervik has distinguished himself within both product design and interior décor, designing everything from furniture, textiles, glass and industrial design, to restaurants, nightclubs and shops. His work can be seen at the National Museum in Stockholm, Röhsska in Gothenburg and at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design in Oslo. Alexander Lervik’s work has a strong conceptual basis and is born out of a clear idea. www.lervik.se
Over the years, Nordic Light Hotel has become a natural arena in Stockholm for several design events. The hotel’s fundamental concept is based on creating a changing environment and inspiring experiences for an audience with an interest in design. During the year, the lobby features several different guest installations, with everything form established designers to those who are completely new on the scene, all of whom work closely with the hotel’s own design team.
The nest furniture range is constructed with a strong design identity using the metal part to combine the legs and the seat. The same part is used for tables, lounge chair and the restaurant chair.
Lounge or coffee table in moulded wood. Despite its somewhat spacious dimensions it does not cramp a lot of space. The idea is that one should be able to sit in an easy chair and not have to move ones body in order to fetch a drink etc. One simply places the glass right next to ones seat and needs thus not to bend forward. The table can be furnished with three easy chairs or with one sofa and two easy chairs. Available in veneer or lacquered in optional colours.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
A bench for public habitat. The idea behind the product is that it should invite to different kinds of sitting. The inside of the boomerang lets a small number of people have a confided and private space. Should a single person desire a private atmosphere one simply sits on the outside of the boomerang. Bench in laminated birch natural or stained. Chassis in chromium.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
A candle holder that plays with the shadows. A distinct star is formed when the candle is lit and as the candle burns down the star grows outwards. The candle holder is made from lacquered laser cut steel.
Design Alexander Lervik 2004
Dimension– Light art
Made for the Bank Skandia in Sweden.
It is an art piece but also a 3D screen. Built of 1728 heads. 35.000 parts. 24.000 LED lamps.
The cube has a dimension of 3x3x3 meters. Inside its possible to show 3D movements, movies and text.
Presented in April 2010.
A chair for lounge or conference environments. Lounge easy-chair has two different supporting chassis: with metal runners or swivelling pillar chassis on feet. Chassis in chromium or silver lacquered metal.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
Studio is a stackable chair and manifests a pronounced graphical expression. Arm-rests available for optional assembly. Seat veneered or upholstered. With four legs or a single stand chassis in chromium or lacquered.
Design Alexander Lervik 2004
A upholstered armchair for conferences, restaurants, hotel lobbys and lounges.
A modern armchair with italian influences.
The seat is hugged by a plastic shell witch gives a feeling of a soft inside combined with the hard outside. The stand comes in different designs, all of the designs both in chrome or laquered steel. The armchair is designed to fit all kinds of environments with its small shape and generous seat.
Stackable bar stool with a distinctive appearance. Seat upholstered in optional fabric or leather. Chassis in chromium or lacquered.
Design Alexander Lervik 2003
Aero door knob
A door knob made of plastic that gives a firm and steady grip. The door knob design is inspired from the airplane industries modern design.
Design Alexander Lervik 2003
A door stop with a clear graphical appearance. The design of the door stop has an aimed surface which gives the door a “gentle” reception. Made of steel and rubber.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
Advent candle stick made of glass and wood. The classic Swedish advent candles stick upside-down so that the bog moss is kept safely inside the glass.
Design Alexander Lervik 2003
Producer: Design House Stockholm
A candle holder in stainless steel. The idea is that Mobile should be a new version of the old oil lamps that where used to light up ones way in the darkness. The shape of the candle holder constitutes a comfortable grip.
Design Alexander Lervik 2002
Interior design
Alexander Lervik has completed several major interior design projects, such as the total refurbishment of the Nordic Sea Hotel, taking care of designing all 367 hotel rooms, right down to the smallest detail. He only undertakes a small number of interior design and architectural assignments per year. The assignments carried out are often overall concepts that can range from interior architecture and specially-designed furniture to the look of menus and logos.
Past projects include:
Clarion Hotel Gillet in Uppsala, NK men's and ladies' footwear, all Rizzo's shoe stores in Scandinavia, Sturecompagniet, Push nightclub in Gothenburg, Restaurant Supper in Stockholm, Villa Fågelbo outside Stockholm, Flustret nightclub in Uppsala and the White Room nightclub in Stockholm.
