Isolated Together
喜びをもって、自然にゆだねる
Their goal was to create a sustainable sanctuary. Born and raised in Iceland, the couple, artist Guðrún Kristjánsdóttir and retired well-known radio broadcaster Ævar Kjartansson, left their main home in Reykjavik to restore an abandoned barn dating back to 1937. Their house, which includes an atelier, sits on a vast land; yet it takes up a relatively small space.
Guðrun’s work, mainly paintings, has always been inspired by nature. She uses herbs and stones to research pigments and incorporates them into her paintings, which depict her surroundings. ‘I am always looking outside for yellow stones, the colour of the golden Icelandic sunrise.’
Guðrun and Ævar move freely throughout the day in the house with its many windows, often peering through binoculars. They predict the dynamic changes of the surrounding Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve. Following the rhythm of nature, they move around their reliable tools, Nychair X and Nychair X Ottoman, to relax. Iceland is known for its capricious weather, and the unexpected is part of their daily life. Nature becomes serendipity. Whenever Guðrún and Ævar have to change their plans, they can be heard saying: ‘Þetta reddast (It’s all going to work out in the end)’. For example, if they had planned a picnic outside with their family, but suddenly rain started to fall, they would quickly gather everyone inside and continue the picnic indoors.
Both Iceland and Japan have a respect for the harsh geological conditions that are beyond human control.‘Þetta reddast’ can easily be linked to the Japanese idea of ‘Ashita ha ashita no kaze ga fuku (Tomorrow will take care of itself)’. Both concepts rely on an adaptive optimism towards life’s unexpected surprises and encourage everyone to listen and connect to the natural rhythm of their surrounding environment.
Nychair X Ottoman can also be used as a side table. Before using the stones as pigments, Guðrún temporarily places them here to think about the concept of her paintings.
Lightweight and foldable, Nychair X and Nychair X Ottoman are easy to transport. They offer Guðrún and Ævar stable comfort, allowing them to sit down and enjoy the Icelandic nature during their walk.
Chairs in motion
好きな場所で、思うままに過ごす
Nychair X, with its low seat height and stable design, offers a sense of reliability in motion. Its armrests align with the natural contours of the arms, ensuring maximum comfort for relaxation or sketching. Guðrún Kristjánsdóttir and Ævar Kjartansson chose the warm camel hue to contrast with the cold Icelandic outdoors, mirroring the house’s natural brown interior. Moreover, the Nychair X and Nychair X Ottoman feature easily removable seat fabric that can be dry-cleaned. Together with this durable and easy-to-maintain chair, Guðrún and Æver live in a house with minimal decoration while being embraced by nature, to live a lifestyle of their own.
Read story ⯈
Weekend House
場所を変える、思考が切り替わる
[stories 1]
Read story ⯈
Itinerant Seeds
季節の花が咲く、都市の農園へ
[stories 2]
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Family Portrait
ありのままの個性が交差する家で
[stories 3]
Read story ⯈
House Made of Words
変わりゆく言葉、家、人の歩み
[stories 4]
Read story ⯈
Isolated Together
喜びをもって、自然にゆだねる
[stories 5]
Read story ⯈
A Little Goes a Long Way
暮らしに手をかけるように
[stories 6]