In the center of Oslo, next to the Akerselva, the main river that flows through the city and acts as a cultural gateway to its sites, creative schools and nature, is the design studio of Anderssen & Voll.  Housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city, Anderssen & Voll, whose design repertoire spans multiple categories and genres, is also is in charge of transforming their place of work into a restaurant and small brewery. “In time, the building will also have a small renaissance park surrounding it. Central and idyllic for those who prefer to use a bicycle as a the main means of transport” says Espen Voll, one half of Anderssen & Voll.   Before the firm launched in 2009, Espen started his career by studying architecture.  He soon realized his preference for controlling the whole process from idea to product was more conducive to designing objects instead of buildings and the rest is history.

INTERVIEW: Espen Voll, Partner, Anderssen & Voll {Oslo, Norway}

01 What is Anderssen & Voll known for?
Since our start in 2009, our work has spanned from textile design through tableware, lighting and furniture and electronics for some of Europe’s most renowned international design brands.We also take great pride in working with some of the finest Norwegian traditional industries like Jøtul (gas stoves), Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik, Fjord Fiesta (furniture), Røros Tweed (wool) and LK Hjelle. Working with the very different industrial cultures spanning from the mountains of Norway to the plains of Veneto is a continuous source of inspiration.

02 What is the story behind your Good Morning Moka pot?
The pot was part of a collaborative design exhibition that took place in Tokyo in 2012. Our studio initiated this exhibition by inviting some talented designers from Norway. We called the show, Food Work which explored the storage, preparation, presentation and eating of food. The objects were designed for everyday situations in Norway – they are Norwegian. However, we were inspired by Japanese culture – or rather, by our particular understand­ing of Japanese culture. In other words: we have attempted to make Norwegian objects that could also be relevant to Japanese living.

03 What is the Moka pot made from?
This is our dream pot: a hybrid of the classic Italian pots, traditional Japanese handicraft, and Norwegian cravings for extra strong coffee. The pot is made in aluminium, with a walnut handle. The way the pot is divided tells the story of the transition from the crude to the refined – from beans and water, to pure pleasure.

04 How about your Ori Mills?
These grinders and cellar were the result of experimenting with origami in our studio. The shapes of folds and crystals inspired the idea of milling salt and pepper. The colours are an attempt to break away from the typical black and white setup but still find a reference in the world of food. We wanted to make people think of greens, herbs and fruits when seeing the mills.

Photo Source: Anderssen & Voll

05 Do you entertain at home?
Yes we like to entertain at home. Norwegian style is very informal. We like to experiment with fresh food; fish or meat together with greens Also we like to decorate with one of our many Marimekko tablecloths. Candles are also mandatory in Norway.

06 Are there any unique Norwegian customs when inviting guests to your home?
With our friends it is common to offer to help. Sometimes by bringing homemade side dishes or by lending a hand during preparation of the dinner.

07 What is next for you guys?
We have some great launches next year. One will be a new product for a major Italian brand (still a secret) and the launch is set during the Milan fair in April. It has been a very fruitful and rewarding collaboration so far and  we are extremely excited with the coming presentation. We think this launch will be seminal in our studios presence on an international design scene.

We are also finalizing a series of cast iron ovens for the Norwegian company Jøtul. This has been a new category of work for our studio and a very fascinating one. In the factory scrap metal arrives in one end and finished products come out in the other. Our studio will continue to present new products for the Danish company, Muuto, which is one of our oldest and biggest clients. Next year we will present several new pieces for Muuto such as a sofa and a pendant. Hopefully the office will start to work on our first architectural assignment next year.