Niels Strøyer Christophersen

Niels Strøyer Christophersen is the brilliant mastermind behind Copenhagen headquartered design firm ‘Frama.’  Founded in 2012, the virtues of minimal, high-quality craftsmanship and design are embedded in the brand, with an approach to projects and product design that transcends trends and promises to stand the test of time.

Anchored in simplicity, Niels’ design philosophy takes on an intuitive approach, paying careful attention to structural decision making, and often stripping back the unnecessary to consider purity of form. Taking into consideration the way emotions control us and what it is we feel in a space, he chooses to employ materials and colours inspired from nature, and ensures functionality of objects is at the core of every design and project.

Frama’s creative process is holistic at every scale, from designing residential spaces, through to fragrances, furniture, and home decor. Niels closely collaborates with clients and tradespersons alike, ensuring uncompromising craftsmanship at every turn, and promises objects that tell a story, and spaces that are uniquely tailored to those who dwell in them.

As a long time fan of Frama’s striking design and their celebration of nature, I was absolutely delighted to recently chat with Niels and learn more about the brand’s philosophy.

Read on for more.

 Can you please share with us a bit about the evolution of FRAMA and how it came to be?

At the beginning of FRAMA the primary motivation was a strong passion for design across different product categories (but in particular chairs) combined with the overall message, communication, and language that a brand can represent through its transmission.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a “house / maison” with a strong DNA where the brand profile is clear and visionary and can contain everything from a tea towel to a table to a hand wash. I subconsciously think this fascination has been a strong driver for creating the universe of what FRAMA is today. There are no boundaries as long as things are consistent and real.

Through the years, we have had different milestones:

⁃ October 2011 FRAMA presents its first cross-category collection in various materials in Berlin / Tempelhoff airport as part of an international trade show. The majority of these designs are still in production today, such a Sutoa, Otto Stoneware, Sintra Table, Adam Stool, Shelf Library. This collection is named "The Permanent Collection".

⁃ In 2014/2015 FRAMA presented The Studio Collection, a series of kitchens, cabinets, and sink units. The kitchen prototype was designed and constructed as part of the renovation of my current home. The same year we moved into the location of the former pharmacy, St Pauls. Apotek.

⁃ In 2016 FRAMA presented our first publication, "Dialogues" in collaboration with Berlin-based "Our Food Stories". A wish to print their beautiful digital universe. The same year, we presented the skincare and fragrance experience by launching Apothecary skincare and St. Pauls EDP. This sub-collection is now an essential part of FRAMA spatial program. All projects begin very innocently and because of curiosity towards different fields / categories.

⁃ October 2020 we opened the eatery inside St. Pauls Apotek named Apotek57, together with Chiara Barla. This place brings dynamic conversations and sets a scene with our pieces intertwined.

Can you tell us more about your design philosophy, and how this informs your approach to your creative process?

Things have to be simple and real. It’s, of course, relative and individual when something feels rare, but this is the essential nature of our philosophy. The biggest challenge is keeping your initial idea pure and original when introducing it to a commercial market. If a design was purely for yourself in your home, this is often one “standard.” Then you have the “commercial standard” that meets a market full of expectations and narratives that have to be aligned with the producer/brand and receiver, which is a fine balance.

The creative process is entirely organic and intuitive at FRAMA. What’s also relevant to know is that around 50% of our designs are created by external designers, and the other 50% are developed in-house. So the task is also to curate a collection and universe that is in balance and offers an interesting dynamic. At the end of the day, they complement each other in form, materiality, size, function, and feel. Every piece is always thought into a larger holistic and aesthetic context. 

I love the strong connection to nature that is evident in each of your designs. Can you tell us a little bit more about this?

It’s been quite essential to focus on natural materials from the very beginning such as wood, stone, cork and clay/ceramics. Over the years we added aluminum which is also considered natural material but also steel. Further more we try to use a natural muted color palette that also brings a organic and natural overall feeling. Nature is the strongest creator and we should be inspired by nature in every aspect of our lives - embrace it because we are one with nature.

What’s next for FRAMA?

We like to explore the language we created over the many years more philosophically and include our community much more, creating a more vigorous and more present dialogue.

We are also part of a more significant movement that focuses on a more humble and considered lifestyle that respects the global community and nature. We are on a constant search for collaborating with these other like-minded entities. FRAMA is planning a trip to Kyoto, Japan, to work more in-depth with MAANA HOMES, a part of the same holistic ecosystem. We believe in a regenerative world respectful to people and the surrounding natural world while we continue our curiosity and exploration within the world of spatial universes.

What’s on your playlist at the moment?

I appreciate instrumental music being jazz, rhythm, flute, classical, world music, and so forth.

John Coltrane, Terry Riley, Bremer/McCoy, Grant Green, Chopin, Alice Coltrane, Yussef Kamaal, Svaneborg Kardyb, E Koestyara and Group Gapura (Sangkala (vinyl)), Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Daylight Ragas) style, Sam Gendal, Ustad Zia Mohuiddin Dagar (Raga Mishra Bhairavi), Sonny Rollins, Cal Tjader

For more, visit framacph.com