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From Sweden to the Netherlands: The third edition of the HÅG Capisco Design Challenge

The HÅG Capisco chair’s 40th anniversary celebrations have gone international! Following successful design challenges in Gothenburg and Stockholm, Rotterdam played host to the third edition, where six renowned architecture firms including up Architecture, Kraaijvanger Architects, Casper Schwarz Architects, EGM Architecten, HEYLIGERS Architects, and AAARCHITECTEN reimagined this timeless classic.

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In a vibrant celebration of the HÅG Capisco chair’s 40th anniversary, Flokk Netherlands hosted a design event that truly elevated creativity. Held at the flagship Flokk Design Centre in Rotterdam, the event welcomed six prominent A&D firms from the Netherlands to reinterpret the iconic chair’s design. Their challenge? To "dress the chair for its birthday party."

After two successful events in Gothenburg and Stockholm, the challenge crossed borders to the Netherlands, sparking enthusiasm among the Dutch design community. Renowned architecture firms including up Architecture, Kraaijvanger Architects, Casper Schwarz Architects, EGM Architecten, HEYLIGERS Architects, and AAARCHITECTEN rose to the occasion, showcasing innovative and thought-provoking interpretations of this iconic piece of design history.

The event drew an audience of architects, designers, and enthusiasts, creating a lively and inspiring atmosphere. Each team’s design reflected their unique vision, combining creativity with a deep respect for Peter Opsvik’s original philosophy of freedom and movement that has made the HÅG Capisco chair timeless for four decades.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_03 — **up Architecture (Yildez Veldhuis, Anne Boonstra, and Fleur de Wever): "Form Follows Freedom"**

Celebrating the HÅG Capisco chair’s intrinsic values of adaptability and sustainability, this design highlights its ergonomic excellence and timeless appeal with bold simplicity. A striking statement on the chair reads, “This is a chair,” encapsulating the philosophy of functionality and elegance. The idea is that the chair requires no dressing up; it embodies optimal form. Connecting the intuitive approach to sitting on a Capisco chair with the philosophy of up architecture reinforces its effortless perfection.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_04 — **Kraaijvanger Architects (Felicia Ureña): "Inertia"**

Artistry and sustainability take centre stage with bio-paint crafted from avocado seeds. Fluid patterns embodied Opsvik’s vision of movement and adaptability while showcasing environmentally conscious innovation. The design seamlessly connects art, utility, and the natural world.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_16 — **Casper Schwarz Architects (Casper Schwarz): "UNOFFICED CHAIR"**

This bold and playful design challenges the norms of office furniture. Featuring vibrant pink upholstery and loose stitching, the “UNOFFICED CHAIR” strips away convention to create a piece that fits anywhere, with no predefined purpose—just the one the user gives it.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_11 — **EGM Architecten (Nelleke Minten, Avelien Thoben, and Jan Paul de Ridder): "Fingerspitz"**

Exploring the chair’s tactile and ergonomic features, this design draws inspiration from fingerprints to add a personal and layered touch. It celebrates the individuality of the user while enhancing the Capisco’s already dynamic, adjustable nature.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_17 — **HEYLIGERS Architects (Marleen Valstar): "HEY-HÅG"**

Inspired by the chair’s 3D contours, this design reimagines its form as a topographical landscape. Leather laces mimicked contour lines, creating a dynamic, hilly landscape, layered relief effect that reflects the chair’s natural, flowing structure.

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_06 — **AAARCHITECTEN (Bart Steenkamer): "Twister"**

Playfully celebrating movement and variation, the upholstery features vibrant circles inspired by the game Twister. These symbolise different postures, perfectly embodying Opsvik’s philosophy: “The best position is the next position.”

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_09 — **Bart Steenkamer of Aaarchitechten presenting their design, the Twister**

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_08 — **Each design team was presented with a commemorative poster of their design | pictured: Marleen Valstar, Heyligers Architects**

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_12 — Nelleke Minten, Avelien Thoben, and Jan Paul de Ridder of *EGM Architecten* presented with a commemorative poster of their design the *Fingerspitz*

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_13 — Casper Schwarz of *Casper Schwarz Architects* presented with a commemorative poster of his design the *UNOFFICED CHAIR*

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_15 — **Kraaijvanger Architects (Felicia Ureña): "Inertia"**

flokk-event-rotterdam-hag-capisco-design_14 — Anne Boonstra of up Architecture presented with a commemorative poster of their design *Form Follows Freedom*

Reflecting on the event, David Coenen, Country Manager for Flokk Netherlands, remarked: "We’re thrilled to see so much passion for the HÅG Capisco here in the Netherlands. Inspired by the incredible response in Sweden, we wanted to challenge the Dutch design community, and they delivered beyond expectations. Their dedication, creativity, and inspiring concepts have truly amazed us. We thoroughly enjoyed the design and storylines and the way the designers have embraced the Capisco in their heart.”

This event honoured Peter Opsvik’s visionary legacy, celebrating 40 years of the HÅG Capisco as a symbol of innovation and adaptability. His groundbreaking philosophy continues to inspire designers to think beyond convention.

The designs will be on display at our Design Centre in Rotterdam throughout February. After that, the exhibition will move to Brussels and Copenhagen, where the creations will be brought together with those created at our two Swedish design events.

If you’d like to design your own Capisco, click here to explore countless colour and fabric options on our online designer.

From Sweden to the Netherlands: The third edition of the HÅG Capisco Design Challenge

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