From electrical sockets to door handles, architectural hardware was a surprising star at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen. We’ve rounded up six of the most eye-catching examples.
At venues across the city, various exhibitors were out to prove that these overlooked elements should be given greater consideration.
Designs in wood and metal offered an alternative to the standard plastic, while playful use of colour, pattern and texture showed how hardware can inject extra personality into an interior.
Read on for our pick of the six best examples:
Spaces Within highlights “beauty of wear” with collection of handles and pulls
Swedish brand Spaces Within unveiled new additions to its range of brass hardware, including the compact Luna knob, the gently curved Sage cup handle and the tasselled Selene Catena pull.
These were at 3 Days of Design in the exhibition Patina of Wear, designed by Studio Daniel Kutlesovski. Created with oilskin textile, this scenography of soft-edged cabinets suggested how age can make an interior more sculptural.
YSG Studio celebrates natural timber tones with stripy handles for Bankston
No stains were used in the creation of The Streaks, a collection of striped door levers and joinery handles designed by Sydney-based YSG Studio for Australian hardware company Bankston.
Available in three different colour pairings, the designs showcase the diverse tones of six distinct timber varieties.
The boldest colour combo brings together New Zealand Purpleheart and African Padauk, resulting in a purple-toned piece. A lighter-hued design pairs American White Ash with Australian Blackbutt, while American Walnut and Australian Red Cedar create a design with rich brown shades.
Sockets become smiley faces in India Mahdavi and 22 System collaboration
The sister brand of glass lighting company Bocci, 22 System is a suite of minimal electrical sockets developed by founder Omer Arbel.
Arbel teamed up with designer India Mahdavi to create Smiley, an armchair featuring 10 of these sockets. First unveiled in Paris earlier this year, it was installed in design bookstore Le Petit Voyeur during 3 Days of Design.
With yellow faceplates resembling the universal smiley face symbol, the design suggests how sockets can offer moments of joy and humour in otherwise simple interiors.
Norm Architects teams up with Brandt on handles inspired by architecture and nature
Copenhagen-based interiors studio and retailer Brandt has added four new designs to its architectural hardware collections, following a collaboration with fellow Danish studio Norm Architects.
Taking cues from nature, Carve resembles chiselled wood, while Leaf has a smooth organic form.
The other two are more architectural: Terrace (pictured) takes cues from Roman staircases, while Button has a more nostalgic feel.
Fontini puts new spin on retro porcelain switches and sockets
Specialising in porcelain switches and sockets, Fontini is one of two brands within Font Design Group, a family-owned electric manufacturing company founded in Barcelona in 1950.
Fontini’s collections include the classic Garby (pictured), which now comes with a wide range of socket, switch and button options, and the contemporary Do and Dimbler designs.
The brand exhibited at 3 Days of Design alongside products from sister brand Font Barcelona, whose collection includes switches with textured metal faceplates.
Kjaer + Loege creates switches and sockets in tactile timber and concrete
Kloss is the debut collection from Kjaer + Loege, a new Norwegian brand founded by husband and wife Mette Kjær Enger Løge and Lars Løge, with designer Antonio Cascos Chamizo.
Available in solid oak or concrete, the collection takes cues from children’s building blocks. Rotating dimmers and wall sockets come in square or round blocks, while a brick-shaped oak block provides an extension cable.
3 Days of Design took place in Copenhagen from 18 to 20 June 2025. Visit Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
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