Thursday, June 2, 2011

Weekend Away in Trondheim!

Located in central Norway, and somewhere not a lot of us have actually heard of, it seems that Trondheim was a place of great Savoir Faire in the 1960s. Especially the Astoria Hotel!

Very little exists on the Astoria Hotel, which is a shame as the interiors were sixties design pushed to the extreme. Designed by Verner Panton one of Denmark’s most influential 20th-century furniture and interior designers, he created an innovative and futuristic scheme in a variety of materials, especially plastics, and in vibrant and exotic colours.

The interior was radical and psychedelic which was an ensemble of his curved furniture, wall upholstering, textiles and lighting.

The design of the Hotel and Restaurant Astoria included the entry area with the cloakroom, the day restaurant with the winter garden, an evening restaurant with dance floor as well as a self-service restaurant.

Panton used the textile design Geometry I to IV for floors, walls and ceilings in order to give the restaurant a uniform image. The chairs are various versions of the cone chairs. The chairs grouped around the tables and the Topan lights work together to divide the large room into individual seating areas with an intimate note.

Seriously it is a bit of overkill and taken separately each item, fabric chair or light is a tour de force in modern Scandinavian design. However when all put together it is a bit of a psychedelic nightmare which would not do a hangover and favours.

However for central Norway in the 1960’s this was it!

15 comments:

  1. that is somewhere i would not like to have more than two G&T's for fear of headache, but man i love those chairs!

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  2. Hello David:
    It also, somehow, gives the impression of not being particularly comfortable and slightly claustrophobic.

    On balance we should say that it is no great loss that little remains.

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  3. Though I do like some of the furniture it may be a little bit to much..I think I would´ve probably lost it on that room that has walls, ceiling and floor printed

    xx
    Andy
    The Black Label

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  4. David as you say some very interesting elements, just too too much when all combined.

    Come and enter my amazing $250 Giveaway from Tracy Porter!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  5. Ah, the sixties and its magnetic magic again :-)

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  6. Verner Panton was pretty amazing but yes it is just a bit over the top (or rather a lot over the top) but then again, I see many designs from recent years that make me want to say, Really?? Glad to have you back posting and commenting :)

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  7. psychedelic heaven ...OTT ... but I love it!
    xx

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  8. David, I would have loved to have visited this place, but not for too long! Taken to another level, this could be a form of torture!

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  9. It's amazing! their shapes, colors, very original designs, I would have liked to take a turn in there, lol.

    A greeting and good weekend week.



    http://thetrendysurfer.blogspot.com/

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  10. I'm a bit giddy just looking at these photographs. Way OTT.. Love the furniture though. Thanks for yet another interesting post!

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  11. Look at those wild chairs ... intense :)

    xx Cat brideblu

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  12. Damn, I wish I existed in the 60's to see this!

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  13. gosh these pics are so AMAZING!!!!
    just take me back to 60's!!!!
    great post and blog!
    hope you'll follow me so i'll do the same
    xoxo

    Syriously in Fashion
    Facebook

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  14. Espero que pasaras un buen fin de semana :)

    El sitio parece muy interesante :)

    Besos desde
    http://yoavogueytuacalifornia.blogspot.com/

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  15. I had the pic of pool posted before!
    But your post is always so much more informative of course~ FAB David as always! I want a Verner Panton chair for my breakfast room...I really-really do!

    xo*

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