A Chair Back Pressed from 36 Layers of Oak, Ends Curled Like Horns:What Is the Danish Brand Norr11?
Norr11 is a Danish furniture brand founded in 2011. All its designs come from its in-house studio, and its approach is to put things from different eras, cultures and materials on a single piece of furniture, then tune them until they stop clashing. Among the models available in Taiwan, the Bufala dining chair, Langue chair and Tilt coffee table show best what it is doing.
A design company that wrote down “curiosity” first
The brand’s own account is simple: it started as a design company, with a vision of continuing to make designs that make people curious. The studio is led by founder Tommy Hyldahl and lead designer Kristian Sofus Hansen. Bufala was drawn by the two of them, while Langue came from two other designers.
They do not stick to a single style. In the brand’s words, they challenge the boundaries between periods, design directions, cultures and materials, aiming to make opposing elements “start working together,” and they call that result the umami of design. That sounds a bit cryptic, and it is easier to grasp in person: a chair has a Nordic solid-wood frame, yet the shape of its back carries something else.
Another fixed requirement is 360 degrees. For every piece the studio looks from all sides, and the back, sides and rear all have to hold up. This habit is especially useful for furniture placed in the middle of a living room with its back facing the walkway.
Bufala: a chair back pressed from 36 layers of oak
Bufala is Italian for water buffalo. The two ends of the back curl outward, a bit like buffalo horns when seen from the side. Designed in 2019 by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl, the back is pressed from 36 layers of oak veneer in a special mold, while the seat frame reuses the brand’s NY11 chair, a frame that passed the L2 test. Made in Latvia, with a hand-built solid oak frame and water-based lacquer.
The oak comes in four colors: natural, light smoked, dark brown and black oak. The same chair gives two different moods beside a natural oak table and beside a dark one. Seat height is 45.5 cm and armrest height 67.5 cm, so it fits under dining tables of the usual 72 to 75 cm height.
Langue: reshaping the shell chair a little
Langue is French for tongue and refers to the shape of the seat shell. Designed by Rune Krøjgaard and Knut Bendik Humlevik in 2011, it aims to be simple and timeless while trying to alter the outline of the traditional shell chair so that the shape fits the human posture a little better.
The shell is molded polypropylene and is comfortable to sit in as standard; for longer sitting you can choose the soft upholstery with 3 cm thick foam, and the brand also has fabric-covered and leather-covered versions, as in the photo. Steel legs, 57 cm wide, 51 cm deep and 78 cm high, with a seat height of 46 cm. It fits in both homes and commercial spaces, and lining several up in a row is no effort.
Tilt and Mammoth: one looks about to tip over, the other looks about to hug you
Tilt coffee table is designed so that people think it is about to fall over, yet it is as stable as an ordinary table; the brand says it is a reminder that things are not always what they seem. It is also a sculpture: on the floor it serves as a coffee table, and elsewhere it can be a display stand. The standard version comes in three colors, Chalk, Chai and Earth; the glass version comes in three colors, amber, smoke and bottle green, 50 cm in diameter and 35 cm high.
Mammoth is a single-seat chair with a high back and side wings that wrap forward. The seat and back are formed in the same mold, so the side looks clean with no seams. It is 89 cm wide, 87 cm deep and 104 cm high, with a seat height of 35.5 cm; sitting in it, your view is slightly enclosed, which suits a spot by a window or bookshelf. Prices are tiered by fabric grade, and it can be paired with a footstool.
Matching what is on our shelves
| Use | Item | Dimensions | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A single chair at the dining table, four oak colors | Norr11 Bufala dining chair | 54.4 W × 50.5 D × 75 H cm, seat height 45.5 cm | NT$41,800 | Four colors: natural, light smoked, dark brown and black oak; seat cushion can be customized |
| A light chair for lining up in rows, five material choices | Norr11 Langue chair (black steel legs) | 57 W × 51 D × 78 H cm, seat height 46 cm | NT$13,800 | Polypropylene shell, five colors, optional 3 cm foam cushion |
| A coffee table in front of the sofa, the one that looks about to tip | Norr11 Tilt coffee table | 67.5 W × 50 D × 35 H cm | NT$25,800 | Three colors: Chalk, Chai and Earth |
| The coffee table in glass | Norr11 Tilt glass coffee table | 50 cm diameter × 35 cm H | NT$32,800 | Three colors: amber, smoke and bottle green |
| A single-seat wingback armchair | Norr11 Mammoth chair | 89 W × 87 D × 104 H cm, seat height 35.5 cm | From NT$112,800 | Many fabric and leather options, priced by fabric grade; a footstool can be paired |
Prices are NOSA’s prices on the day of writing; the product page prevails.
What to know before buying
Before ordering, measure your hallway width and dining table height; the chair’s seat height and armrest height need to match the tabletop, and you are welcome to try sitting in one at our Taichung showroom first. NOSA is Norr11’s official distributor in Taiwan. Some models are in stock with about 3 to 7 working days for delivery, pre-order items generally take 1 to 3 months, and the warranty is 12 months from the delivery date, with delivery across Taiwan. You can see the models currently listed on the NOSA Norr11 page.
Sources
- Norr11 official website: Who we are
- Norr11 official blog: Into NORR11 design
- Photos: courtesy of Norr11
- Prices and stock: NOSA Norr11 page
FAQ
Where is Norr11 from, and when was it founded?
Norr11 is a Danish furniture and homeware brand founded in 2011. It describes itself as a design company whose goal is to keep making designs that spark curiosity. Design is handled by an in-house studio led by founder Tommy Hyldahl and lead designer Kristian Sofus Hansen.
What is Norr11’s design style?
The brand does not stick to a single era or style; it deliberately puts different periods, design directions, cultures and materials together, then adjusts them until they work together. The brand calls this balance “the umami of design.” Every piece has to hold up when viewed from 360 degrees, not just from the front.
How is the back of the Bufala chair made?
The back is pressed from 36 layers of oak veneer in a special mold, and the seat frame reuses the NY11 chair frame that passed the L2 test. It was designed in 2019 by Kristian Sofus Hansen and Tommy Hyldahl and is made in Latvia. It is 54.4 cm wide, 50.5 cm deep and 75 cm high, with a seat height of 45.5 cm.
What does the name Langue chair mean?
Langue is French for “tongue,” referring to the shape of the seat. It was designed in 2011 by Rune Krøjgaard and Knut Bendik Humlevik; the seat shell is molded polypropylene, with optional soft upholstery of 3 cm thick foam, steel legs, and it is made in Latvia.
How do I buy Norr11 in Taiwan?
NOSA is Norr11’s official distributor in Taiwan, with a physical showroom in Taichung that can be visited by appointment, and delivery across Taiwan. Some models are in stock with about 3 to 7 working days for delivery, pre-order items generally take 1 to 3 months, and the warranty is 12 months from the delivery date; the details on each product page prevail.
Lucía
