In the lead-up to celebrating the launch of Fritz Hansen's Skagerak Collection in Australia this week, we're sharing a recent installation to introduce the range in Japan at Nicolai Bergamann's iconic Hakone Gardens, just south of Tokyo. Read on for the ultimate Danish-Japanese garden inspiration.
Over four months this Summer, Danish brand Fritz Hansen took over Nicolai Bergmann's iconic Hakone Gardens to launch Skagerak - a collection of furniture and accessories designed for the outdoor and the indoor that joined the Fritz Hansen family recently. This unique installation showcased the full Skagerak range and expressed the Danish summer in a special, nature-filled environment.
Hakone Gardens features greenhouses, sculptures and landscaped forest areas for visitors to explore.
Between Lines Deck Chair - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Overlap Table and Benches - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Messina Umbrella - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Located just an hour and a half south of Tokyo, Hakone Gardens is a renowned destination created by Danish floral artist, Nicolai Bergmann, who has lived in Japan for over 20 years.
Surrounded by the rich nature of Hakone, the space offered an extraordinary moment of peace where visitors could stroll around the garden enhanced with Nicolai Bergmann’s seasonal creations and Skagerak’s furniture collection.
For this 'summer escape' pop-up installation, the garden was decorated with 120 products from the Skagerak collection and visitors were free to try all the products inside the space.
The entry pathway to Hakone Gardens with sculptures by Nicolai Bergmann
Beautiful flower displays at Hakone Gardens
Selandia Table, Selandia 2-Seater, Messina Umbrella - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Pelagus Chairs and Table - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Georg Stool, Georg Desk - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Director's Chair - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
During the exhibition period, exclusive summer cocktails created by Empirical, a spirits distillery launched by the former chefs of noma, were offered at Nicolai Bergmann NOMU hakone. All menu items at NOMU hakone were available for takeaway, allowing visitors to enjoy a Danish-styled picnic under the sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Danish floral artist Nicolai Bergmann has been based in Japan for more than 20 years. His unique fusion of Japanese and Western designs draw inspiration from Japan’s unique traditions, culture and climate. Throughout his career, Nicolai has continued to create flower designs and sculptural forms made from an array of materials, constantly challenging himself to bring new visions of art to the public. Since the onset of his career he has been hoping to turn his inspirations in Japan to a more tangible and lasting form and over many years, searched for a vast location where he could do so.
During one weekend getaway in 2015, he finally discovered the land in Gora, Hakone where he felt was the perfect place to become one with nature, where nature remains unspoiled and intact. The Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens is a unique place where Nicolai’s designs are incorporated into nature, connecting people with the beautiful land.
Visitors are welcomed to enjoy the different features of the garden amongst the ever changing backdrop of Hakone’s nature. Spring, when everything turns to the color of cherry blossoms, early summer, when the beautiful gradation of hydrangea envelopes you, autumn, when the silver of silver grass appears in a dream-like state and winter, when nature shows its gleam through the harsh cold. Flowers bloom everywhere and the garden is dotted with floral art and objects created by Nicolai.
Surrounded by the rich nature of Hakone, this space offers an extraordinary moment of peace where visitors can stroll around the garden enhanced with Nicolai Bergmann’s seasonal creations and SKAGERAK’s furniture collection.
Aldus Table, Hven Chairs - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Aino Mirrors - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Founded in Denmark in 1872, Fritz Hansen is a global leader in furniture, lighting and accessory design and production. Driven by a passion for beauty, quality, and craftsmanship, the company embodies a modern, Nordic lifestyle and collaborates with visionary artists, designers, and architects from around the world. The brand has collaborated with Arne Jacobsen, Cecilie Manz, Hans J. Wegner, Piero Lissoni, Jaime Hayon and Poul Kjærholm, among others.
In 2021, Skagerak was acquired by Fritz Hansen, bringing two pioneering Danish furniture design brands together as one company. Skagerak is an international design company founded in 1976 in Denmark. Fritz Hansen stands behind Skagerak to bring the best of Danish design to every part of life, indoors and outdoors. Together the two companies will expand design possibilities with high-quality craftsmanship and beautiful design.
Fritz Hansen's Skagerak Collection is an environmentally conscious furniture collection crafted primarily with FSC™-certified teak and oak, continuously striving for a more positive impact on our world. Each piece is made with honest, durable materials that age beautifully. Co-created with renowned architects and designers, the Skagerak Collection elevates modern living indoors and outdoors while expressing the Nordic connection between nature and design.
The garden was decorated with 120 products from SKAGERAK collection and visitors were free to try all the products inside the space.
Steamer Deck Chair - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
Drachmann Chair - Fritz Hansen Skagerak Collection
This Fritz Hansen exhibition at Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens is on show from June 1 – September 30, 2023.
Opening hours: 10am – 5pm
Address: 1323-119 Gora, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa, Japan, 250-0408
For more details on the opening hours, access information and reservations, please visit the Nicolai Bergmann Hakone Gardens website.
