Garde Hvalsøe presents Deltag at 3daysofdesign 2025
Danish interior specialist Garde Hvalsøe unveiled Deltag — meaning "to participate" in Danish — as its installation for 3daysofdesign 2025.
Held at the brand’s Copenhagen showroom from 18 to 20 June, the exhibition invited visitors not only to observe but to take part — to sit, to listen, to feel, and to engage. Curated by acclaimed stylist Pernille Vest, Deltag blurred the lines between design and hospitality, transforming the showroom into a living, breathing environment that evolved through human presence.
Taking cues from boutique hotels, cafés and modern restaurants, the installation moved fluidly between atmospheres, functioning as a restaurant, lounge, or private home. It was not a static display, but rather a responsive setting that changed depending on who entered and how they interacted with it. "For me, Deltag was about creating quiet moments of connection," shared Vest. "A space where light, texture, and materiality invite you to slow down, be present, and become part of the space."
The exhibition brought together a curated group of collaborators aligned in their dedication to material quality and lasting craftsmanship. Furniture pieces from De La Espada featured prominently, alongside designs by multidisciplinary architects Neri&Hu and celebrated Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus. Together with Garde Hvalsøe, these collaborators presented a unified vision of tactile beauty and timeless elegance.
Anchoring the installation was the launch of the Koshi-do Armoire, the latest addition to Garde Hvalsøe’s Koshi-do collection. Developed in close collaboration with OEO Studio, the freestanding cabinet was crafted in solid cherry wood with a delicate vertical slatted front. Drawing on Japanese principles of balance, simplicity, and spatial harmony — reinterpreted through a Nordic perspective — the piece cast shifting patterns of light and shadow, underscoring the exhibition’s exploration of sensory depth.
Throughout the space, every surface invited touch and every detail told a story. Visitors were encouraged to sip tea at the communal table, feel the grain of the wood under their hands, and listen to the sounds within the room. The installation embodied Garde Hvalsøe’s core philosophy: that design is at its best when it’s lived — not merely viewed.
“Our continued collaboration with De La Espada has only deepened my respect for their extraordinary approach to furniture making,” said Garde Hvalsøe CEO Søren Lundh Aagaard. “It reaffirms my belief that true craftsmanship is a universal language — one that transcends borders and generations, connecting us through a shared passion that deserves to be protected, nurtured and celebrated.”
Vest’s curation struck a distinct tone — one of intimacy and clarity. Known for her minimal yet emotive aesthetic, she drew on her background in fashion and her deep engagement with art and interiors to create a space that felt considered but not contrived. As co-founder of RUM and Ark Journal, her influence on the Scandinavian design conversation has been significant, and her work at Deltag continued that legacy.
The experience served as a meditation on time, materiality, and human interaction. In an increasingly fast-paced world, Deltag offered a rare opportunity to slow down and reconnect with the physical. As the exhibition unfolded across three days, it became clear that its true subject was not just craftsmanship — but presence. It reminded visitors that the beauty of a finely made object lies not only in its form, but in the moments it helps to create.
