Gabriella Lenke and Mattias Ståhlbom are free thinkers. In their work with interiors and product
design they continually challenge traditional definitions. Together they established the design and
architecture studio TAF in 2002. Asked to describe the work of TAF Studio, they speak of “spatial
design” as their approach to projects. “The spatial thinking and the products cross-fertilise each
other”, says Gabriella. A good example is the Museum NM&.045, the shelf designed by TAF Studio for
Sweden’s National Museum of Fine Arts in Stockholm.
“Nationalmuseum went through a monumental metamorphosis before reopening in 2018”, says
Mattias. It produced not only new interior but a range of new products, each made for a specific
purpose. One of the museum’s requirements was that the interior should make space for selected
small objects from the collection. The result was a console shelf named NM&.045 that would later
be put into production. Besides being both beautiful and easily mounted with its hidden attachment,
the delicately shaped construction in aluminium and steel makes the shelf exceptionally strong. “The
shelf had to support everything from precious vases to heavy figurines and sculptures”, says Gabriella.
“We wanted to create the feeling that the museum wall reaches out toward you, like the palm of a
hand presenting the art”. The success of the Museum NM&.045 inspired TAF Studio to create the
free-standing, height-adjustable Museum Sidetable, introduced by String Furniture in 2020.
Despite its name, the Museum Sidetable didn’t originate from Nationalmuseum, but at the Swedish
interior design store Svenskt Tenn.
One of Sweden’s most influential design stores, Svenskt Tenn is internationally acclaimed for the work
of Josef Frank, who fled Austria in the 1930’s and moved to Sweden. The furniture and furnishings he
created are today considered iconic pieces of Swedish Modern design. When TAF Studios was invited
to create an exhibition, they decided to highlight Frank’s floral fabrics and prints. “Our vision included
having tables with big vases filled with flowers to make the patterns come alive”, says Mattias. ”We
needed a strong table, with a balanced character that wouldn’t outshine the objects put upon it”.
M U S E U M C O L L E C T I O N
N A T I O N A L M U S E U M & T A F S T U D I O
N M & . 0 4 5 C O N S O L E S H E L F , S I D E T A B L E & C A N D L E H O L D E R
