Anker Bak is a pioneering designer, merging the essence of Nordic cabinetmaking traditions with innovative, regenerative furniture and assistive aids. Recognized for his empowering and caring practice, Bak experiments with wood to address real-life challenges, notably improving the lives of the elderly and people with disabilities. He creates vital furniture pieces still awaiting full industry recognition. Collaborating with esteemed entities like Carl Hansen & Søn, Takumi Kohgei, and Fredahl Rydéns, Bak was honored with the Wegner Prize in 2023 and the 2024 Finn Juhl Prize for his holistic and crucial design approach. As a thought leader in an emerging field, he is dedicated to ushering in a new era with his concept of Dignity Design.
‘The Furniture We Need’ by Anker Bak is an journey through the challenges faced by the elderly and people with disabilities. Through Bak’s caring and poignant approach, the exhibition contrasts industrial materials with visions of a future where design embodies dignity for everyone, without discrimination. Towering above the harbour in Kulturtårnet on Knippelsbro Bridge, the exhibition stands in a recently renovated copper tower, symbolizing a bridge between the old and new. It draws on Bak's sensitive insight into the human condition and continues the furniture activism that earned Bak’s debut exhibition "Renewed Dignity" wide acclaim. Visitors are sure to be challenged with Bak’s visions, inspiring hope and a burning sense of urgency.