Founded upon a mutual commitment to craftsmanship and a curiosity to develop a new interpretation of the classic spindle chair, Space Copenhagen and Benchmark began their collaboration in 2017 with the launch of the Gleda lounge chair at Decorex. Clerkenwell Design Week now sees an extension of this range with the introduction of the matching Gleda tables along with the Gleda dining chair. The Welsh and Icelandic origin of ‘Gleda’ means “to make happy or glad”. With this extended collection, Space Copenhagen and Benchmark have examined this namesake by creating visually light furniture, crafted in solid oak with intricate brass details and relaxed upholstery. A timeless collection equally suitable for residential and commercial environments.

Space Copenhagen comment: “With the new additions to our Gleda collection for Benchmark, we further developed our interpretation of the spindle chair - a feature which is deeply rooted in both the British and Scandinavian furniture history and craftsmanship. We love the simplicity of the spindle structure, but have worked with the detailing to achieve higher level of comfort and a more fluid and modern look. From our fascination with materiality we have employed several traditional techniques for treating the quality wood, achieving three tactile looks for the Gleda dining chair and lounge tables. We are thrilled to be launching this range at Clerkenwell Design Week, where British work is celebrated alongside that of international designers.”

The design vision for the Gleda collection incorporates Space Copenhagen’s signature of natural materials, subdued colours and meticulous craftsmanship. As seen in the original Gleda lounge chair, the wood used across the collection is solid oak with a natural, grey aged or ebonised finish – a traditional technique using iron oxide and vinegar which reacts with the tannin in the oak to produce a lustrous black finish with accentuated grain patterns. Sean Sutcliffe, Co-Founder of Benchmark, comments: “With the Gleda collection Benchmark has forged an exciting new collaboration that truly imbues the shared respect of wood and craftsmanship between the UK and Denmark. The pieces we’ve created reflect and celebrate Benchmark’s heritage as woodworkers, whilst embracing the design vision and pragmatism of Space Copenhagen. The results are elegant furniture designs which are made to exceptional quality and will last for generations.”

At the core of the production of the Gleda collection, including the original Gleda lounge chair, is a sense of environmental responsibility and a commitment to sustainable furniture. The collection has been built to last, as are all pieces built by Benchmark, who are world-leading in their exploratory work in the Life Cycle Assessment. This initiative evaluates the cradle-to-grave environmental impact of our furniture.