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Strand+Hvass
Jagtvej 11
DK-2200 København N
Denmark
© 2021
Niels Hvass, partner and co-founder of Strand + Hvass, is an award-winning Danish furniture designer based in Copenhagen. Niels graduated from The Royal Danish Academy - The School of Design in 1987, specializing in furniture design.
See Niels Hvass's projects
Design by Niels Hvass

The work of Niels Hvass is anchored in the Scandinavian design tradition – the search for pure simplicity with a unique and strong identity. He uses his technical insight to find the most efficient way to the optimal solution. Physical models will be used to test comfort and strength. His Works is often completed by his own hands or in close relationship with specialized craftsmen.

He has hold a professorship at The Royal Danish Academy-School of Design, and here also functioned as “Designer in residence”. He has been active behind the scenes on the boards of several organizations, including The Danish Art Foundation, the Danish Art Workshops SVFK. As a member and co-founder of OCTO group, Niels Hvass has organized and participated in a long list of exhibitions with his mind-blowing expressions and surprisingly designs. His works are represented at several museums and art galleries.

During his career, Niels Hvass has works with brands such as Fritz Hansen, Carl Hansen & Søn, Four Design, Källemo, Fredericia Furniture, Cane-Line, Galerie Maria Wettergren. He has worked with interior and exhibition design for Designmuseum Danmark, among others.

Niels Hvass founded Hvass Design studio in 1990. In 1998, the studio merged and was renamed Strand+Hvass. Niels Hvass has won countless awards for his experimental and aesthetic Scandinavian designs that honor form and function. With a great passion for sustainability, Niels Hvass looks into the future of furniture design and how it can move towards an increasingly circular model.

The main part of Niels Hvass’ commercial work is devoted to Strand + Hvass.

Education and networks
  • 1987
    The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - The School of Design
  • 1989
    Cappella Academy
  • 1990
    Member of the design group OCTO
  • 1992
    Member of SE
  • 1994
    Member of Design Denmark MDD
  • 2003-2009
    Board member of Danish Art Workshop SVFK
  • 2014-2016
    Board member The Danish Art Foundation
Awards
  • 2022
    German Design Award
  • 2019
    Red Dot Award
  • 2015
    Finn Juhl Architectural Prize
  • 2012
    Interior Innovation Award
  • 2007
    Rumprisen
  • 2006
    Møbelprisen
  • 2006
    Red Dot Award
  • 2004
    Le Prix de l´esthetique
  • 2003
    Nominated for the Bo Bedre award
  • 2000
    The GIO (Good Industrial Design – Dutch award)
  • 1998
    Georg Jensen award
  • 1997
    The Danish Arts Foundation’s 3-year scholarship
  • 1996
    Nominated for the Bo Bedre award
  • 1995
    The Design Foundation’s design award
  • 1995
    Academy Council Non Nobis donation
  • 1995
    Scholarships from the Danish Arts Foundation
  • 1995
    Scholarshops from Nationalbankens Jubilæumsfond
Museums
  • 2016
    FourCast Designmuseum Danmark
  • 2016
    On The Move Designmuseum Danmark
  • 2015
    FourSure and FourCast Trapholt
  • 2009
    IMA, Indianapolis museum of art
  • 2001
    The Röska Museum, Gothenburg
  • 1991
    Danish Museum of Art and Design
Exhibitions
  • 2022
    The Magic of Form, Designmuseum Danmark
  • 2021
    Formens Magi - Kunst og Design, Kunsten Ålborg
  • 2021
    Tid, Takt og Tone, Sophienholm
  • 2017
    Eat Me at, Trapholt
  • 2017
    Side by Side Out Side, Designmuseum Danmark
  • 2014
    Danish Design - Masters and Icons, Sao Paulo
  • 2009
    Dialogue, a chair that is up for Negotiation
  • 2009
    IMA European Design - Shaping the new Century
  • 2009
    Second Nature, Danish - Japanese design exhibit
  • 2008
    SE Fifty/Fifty in The Round Tower
  • 2008
    Grand Danois Milan
  • 2008
    Check Point DKDS  
  • 2007
    SE Furniture for when you are old
  • 2006
    Niels Hvass - One Off, Normann CPH
  • 2006
    Niels Hvass, Danish Museum of Art and Design
  • 2006
    SE in Frederiksberg Garden
  • 2005
    World Expo, Japan
  • 2004
    Industrial Icons of the 20th century
  • 2003
    Walk the plank
  • 2003
    SE Remix at Trapholt
  • 2003
    Biennalen
  • 2001
    Danish Design Centre
  • 2000
    Danish Design in Poland
  • 2000
    Danish Design in Benelux
  • 2000
    Design von Nachbarn, Hamburg
  • 2000
    Besten aus Nachbarn, Hamburg
  • 2000
    Danish wave, China and Australia
  • 1999
    Walk the plank
  • 1999
    Int. Craft Biennale Korea (by invitation)
  • 1999
    Empty Spaces, Munich
  • 1999
    Nordic Transparancy, Amsterdam
  • 1998
    Design mit Zukunft, Phillip Stark, Cologne
  • 1998
    SE Peace is luxury at the Danish Museum of Art and Design
  • 1997
    Design mit zukunft, Phillip Stark, Bremen
  • 1996
    Denmark through Design, Chicago Atheneum
  • 1996
    Duplica, Danish Architecture Centre
  • 1996
    DK Design and Crafts, St. Petersburg
  • 1996
    Niels Hvass Design, Danish Museum of Art and Design
  • 1996
    SE, Scandinavian trade mart
  • 1995
    Design Aktuelt, Sophienholm Copenhagen
  • 1995
    Living Design of Denmark, Madrid
  • 1995
    Living Design of Denmark, Barcelona
  • 1995
    Danish Design. Product/Process, Copenhagen
  • 1995
    Niels Hvass Design, PALOMAR, Milan
  • 1990-1999
    Yearly OCTO exhibitions
Lectures
  • 2004-2007
    Designer in residence at The Danish Design School
  • 2004
    Danish Centre for Design Research
  • 2003
    Kids design, Japan
  • 1997
    Workshops Hong-ik, Korea
  • 1997
    Yunsei university, Korea
  • 1996
    DiS (Danish International Study Program)
  • 1993-2004
    The Danish Design School