Erik Wester

Jar, 2022

Jar is a lounge table in solid oak.
The dimensions are Ø900 mm with four legs, Ø750 mm with three legs. Jar is also available as a Ø450 mm four legged side table.
Available heights are 460, 420 and 360 mm, all versions available with or without shelf.
The name Jar is a Norwegian word for edge referring to the flatlaying stretchers that signify the table.
The table flat packs.

Manufactured by Tonning & Stryn.

Photo: Pernille Münster

Tubus, 2019

Tubus Vase is a series of mouth-blown vessels.
The vases are produced by hand for achieving the craft qualities which glassblowing holds; heat finished edges and natural variations in the glass.
Functionally the vase consists of two open integrated forms creating a set of two different volumes, it thereby opens for combining live and dried plants or flowers.
Visually the outer and inner glass forms overlap to create a deeper hue, resulting in a vibrant and colourful expression.
The vase was first shown at the exhibition Norwegian Presence in Milan during Salone del Mobile 2019.

Available through Magnor.

Photo: Erik Wester

Gullbaren, 2016

Gullbaren is a cocktail bar run by Fuglen situated on the 2nd floor of cultural quarter Sentralen; the former Christiania Sparebank`s building of 1901 in Oslo.
Fuglen, Atelier Oslo, Alexander Åsgård and I designed the bar together as a team.
Fuglen directed the design and detailing and chose Frikk as the bar stool. Atelier Oslo designed the bar desk, and Alexander Åsgård and I designed the tables and shelves together.
The bar is located in the old club room of the Freemasons who previously owned Christiania Sparebank. The former owners are represented on the paintings and on the small busts on the shelves.
The idea of Gullbaren was to try to preserve the atmosphere of the past through keeping the walls and ceiling untouched.

Photo: Haakon Hoseth

Ratio, 2016

Ratio are cutting boards in wood sized in the ratios of paper series A and B.
Paper sizes are based on the Golden Ratio - nature`s own natural ratio and well known proportions to the eye. I thought proportions good for the kitchen too.
The cutting boards have dome shaped edges for being easy to pick up, flip, and use on both sides.

Manufactured by Skagerak.

Photo: Jan Khür

Frikk, 2015

Frikk is a wooden three legged stool with references to the industrial stool of the 1920s.
The stool was designed to be light and strong and makes use of its three legged structural form to enhance strong wood joinery and light weight.
The seat is slightly curved for sitting comfort and has a centered hole for easily lifting the stool single handed.
Available in 450, 640 and 750 mm height in solid oak, natural and various colours and finishes.

Manufactured by Tonning & Stryn. Part of Norwegian Icons selection.

Photo: Steinar Vollan

Birdkeeper, 2011

Birdkeeper is a bird box with extended side walls.
The walls provide the birds inhabiting the house with extra shielding for wind and weather, and fit flush with the angled roof. The roof is attached with hinges and locks on through integrated magnets, to keep unwanted predators out.
Birdkeeper is made in outdoor plywood for not moving in changing conditions and keeping durability. It comes in different sizes which are all taken from recommendations of ornothologists for various bird species living in urban areas.
Three prototypes were presented at the ODL exhibition in the shop/office of Holedesign during Designers Saturday in Oslo.

Photo: Ina Damli

Task, 2008/2010

Task Standing Light is an adjustable standing light.
The light represents a classic Scandinavian standing light with a new set of functions. Through ball joint mechanisms in the base and top both the stem and the lampshade can rotate around their axis and tilt up to 15 degrees from vertical.
The wooden stem is reinforced to keep from bending and has the cord running inside. The base is made in steel. The ball joints hold the stem and shade in all angles without running loose, and have a vertical click-in position for making it easy to stand the light completely straight.
After editing and re-editing for about two years it was finished in 2010. I developed the ball joint with the vertical preset positioning specifically for the Standing Task Light, though it could work for many other lighting designs as well.
The two prototypes were shown at Copenhagen Design Week and Dutch Design Week in 2010.

Photo: Dim Balsem

Custom, 2022

Occasionally I draw custom projects for clients. The request for this project was a freestanding open back bookshelf in solid oak.
The shelf was designed symmetrical and to fit the clients` book collection, with room for the tallest books in the lowest shelves.
To keep an open back the shelf frame was given three wider back panels following the form language of the shelf. The back panels together with the dividing walls create a strong frame structure without the need for any other back support.

Built by Vilde Rapp Riise.

Photo: Christian Tunge

Årringer, 2021

Årringer is a series of dishes designed for Fram Oslo’s Ornament design competition.
The series picture a simplified expression of tree rings seen in the end grain of wood press moulded onto glass dishes of different size and depth.
Handblown glass traditionally is formed in wooden moulds and wood and glass thereby hold a historical and cultural link which I wanted to show in this project.
Årringer tableware was shortlisted for the competition and exhibited at Håndverk+ in Oslo fall 2021.

Photo: Erik Wester