Architectural design in textile form: the Tegel rug by Kasthall and David Chipperfield

The announcement in March that David Chipperfield had been awarded international architecture’s highest accolade, the Pritzker Prize, cemented his place as one of the industry’s leading contemporary figures. From humble beginnings designing shop interiors for fashion designer Issey Miyake in Japan, over the past four decades Chipperfield has completed dozens of globally important projects, including the restoration of Berlin’s iconic Neues Museum and The Hepworth Wakefield gallery in England.

David Chipperfield Architects is renowned for its elegant and exquisitely detailed designs, which range in scale from urban masterplans and buildings to products for brands such as Alessi, Cassina, Wästberg and e15. This year’s Milan Design Week will see the launch of the studio’s latest creation, an architecturally inspired collection of rugs for Swedish company Kasthall that epitomises its ability to offer a fresh take of archetypal objects.

In its citation, the Pritzker Prize jury described Chipperfield’s architectural projects as 'always characterised by elegance, restraint and a sense of permanence, as well as clear compositions and refined detailing.' These traits are evident in the Tegel rug collection, which comprises three design variants defined by their distinct geometric compositions. As their names suggest, the rugs’ layered forms are concentrated either in the Corner, on one Side or at the Centre, with each design altering the perception of the surrounding space.

The pieces are the result of a first-time collaboration between David Chipperfield Design and Kasthall, which crafts rugs made to last a lifetime at its headquarters and factory in the small town of Kinna in the south of Sweden. Perhaps unsurprisingly, inspiration came from the architecture of the historic brick buildings at the Kinna site. The shapes seen on the Corner, Side and Centre rugs reference the buildings’ functional forms, while the earthy colour palette evokes their naturally weathered brick facades.

According to Kasthall’s design and range director, Lena Jiseborn, the project translates key aspects of the brand’s heritage into a practical floor covering that will enhance a wide range of contemporary room settings. 'Together we’ve achieved an artistic and creative feat rooted in Kasthall,' says Jiseborn, adding that the 'versatile and exciting design appeals to a multitude of tastes and uses.'

Kasthall was founded in 1889 by Swedish entrepreneur Ludvig Anderson, who harnessed emerging electric technologies to create a pioneering industrial production facility. Today, the company works with leading designers and architects such as Jonas Bohlin, Ilse Crawford and Jean Marie Massaud to develop innovative rug designs that are beautiful, durable and comfortable underfoot. Each piece is woven and hand-tufted using the finest natural materials so that they will last a lifetime or more.

As with all of Kasthall’s rugs, the Tegel collection is made from premium wool and linen, using a traditional technique that creates a looped bouclé surface. The wool brings depth, warmth and volume to the rug, while the linen adds a subtle sheen that catches the light. Each design features three different colours that are carefully chosen to complement one another, resulting in a coherent and harmonious composition. The blocks of colour form distinct areas that suggest different ways of organising space when the rugs are placed in a room.

Corner, Side and Centre are each available in seven different colourways and in a range of sizes to suit any space. Kasthall makes its rugs to order so no natural resources are wasted on excess production. This also allows it to create rugs in bespoke sizes – in the case of Tegel with dimensions of up to 400 x 600 centimetres. The wide range of size options together with Tegel’s simple pattern and natural, neutral colour palette ensures the collection provides outstanding versatility to go along with its unrivalled design credentials.

Lena Jiseborn confirms that Kasthall is delighted with the outcome of this collaboration and is particularly pleased to be able to offer customers the chance to own a piece of design created by a Pritzker Prize-winning architect. Tegel’s unveiling in Milan will offer visitors a chance to experience the rugs firsthand and Jiseborn is excited to find out what they will think. 'I am truly happy for this project to have taken place,' she says. 'We have created a rug that is not only beautiful but also functional and sustainable. We are confident that this rug will be a hit with design enthusiasts and homeowners alike.'

Learn more about Kasthall

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