Architects celebrating movement. 20 interpretations of an Icon.
Architects celebrating movement. 20 interpretations of an Icon.
The HÅG Capisco chair, designed by Norwegian industrial designer Peter Opsvik in 1984, has become an icon of ergonomic innovation and Scandinavian design. Inspired by the natural posture of horse riding, its distinctive saddle seat and sculptural silhouette encourage active sitting and a dynamic range of movement. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024, the Capisco remains as relevant today as ever, offering a forward-thinking solution for modern workspaces.
At the heart of the chair’s functionality is the patented HÅG inBalance® mechanism, which promotes intuitive movement and continuous micro-shifts in posture, supporting better circulation and well-being throughout the day. Crafted with sustainability in mind, the Capisco was one of the first office chairs made with recycled materials, and its modular design extends its lifespan while reducing environmental impact.
With its timeless form and uncompromising focus on health, design, and the planet, the HÅG Capisco continues to redefine how we sit, four decades and counting.
Table of content
Competition participants
Stockholm, Sweden
Gothenburg, Sweden
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Brussels, Belgium
HÅG: a brand by Flokk
Flokk’s unique design competition
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic HÅG Capisco chair, Flokk invited twenty leading architecture studios from Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium to take part in a special design initiative. In a series of local events held in cities including Stockholm, Gothenburg, Rotterdam, and Brussels, each participating studio received a “blank” HÅG Capisco and was asked to reimagine it by creating a custom fabric pattern, transforming the chair into a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
These collaborative gatherings explored the creative potential of the HÅG Capisco and highlighted the connection between form, function, and artistic expression.
Flokk provided each studio with a simple kit of textile and metal paints, along with two weeks to develop and realise their concepts. The resulting designs were as varied as the designers themselves, ranging from refined minimalism to striking artistic statements.
The concept demonstrated how a single product can be interpreted in many different ways when placed in the hands of creative professionals. It also reinforced Flokk’s focus on collaboration, local community engagement, and sustainable product design.
Stockholm Gothenburg
Brussels
Rotterdam
Designs by: Studio Stockholm, Spectrum Arkitekter, Tengbom Arkitekter, Strategisk Arkitektur
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The first event featured four Swedish architecture studios: Spectrum Arkitekter, Strategisk Arkitektur, Studio Stockholm, and Tengbom Arkitekter. Each presented their customised HÅG Capisco at Flokk’s Stockholm studio, offering their own creative take on the iconic chair.
The architect studios titled their creations, and on the following pages you’ll find each design explored in detail.
Architects and design enthusiasts gather at Flokk’s Stockholm studio to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic HÅG Capisco chair.
Competition Jury (L-R): Johanna Hedström, Flokk Head of Marketing, Esa Airas, Managing Director for Gabriel fabrics in Sweden, and furniture designer Ronja Reuber.
Spectrum Arkitekter
www
spectrumarkitekter.se
Instagram
@spectrumarkitekter
Cindy Lauper
by Spectrum Arkitekter
Inspired by Cyndi Lauper’s 1984 hit Time After Time, this design pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the HÅG Capisco, which made its debut the same year. The song’s emotional tone and message of constancy felt like a fitting parallel to the chair’s own timeless role in the workplace.
The studio kept the modification simple and deliberate. Using a fabric pen, they hand-wrote the full lyrics of the song directly onto the chair’s upholstery, wrapping the text carefully across its surface. The line “If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting, time after time” is especially meaningful, echoing both the physical support of a well-designed chair and the lasting durability of the Capisco itself.
The result is poetic and personal. Without altering the chair’s form, the studio added a quiet layer of storytelling that reinforces its emotional and functional presence; steadfast, iconic, and still relevant, time after time.
40
years and still bold!
by Studio Stockholm
Studio Stockholm’s design marks the 40th anniversary of the HÅG Capisco with a bold and graphic tribute. The inspiration was simple: to celebrate the milestone in a way that felt direct, confident, and contemporary.
Using black fabric cut into the shape of the number “40!”, the team wrapped the typographic element around the chair’s upholstery. The high-contrast composition plays with positive and negative space, allowing the curved forms of the Capisco to interact visually with the bold graphics. This interplay between figure and ground reinforces the chair’s philosophy of dynamic movement and balance.
The result transforms the Capisco into a confident statement piece that merges clarity, form, and celebration.
Studio Stockholm
Strategisk Arkitektur
www
strategiskarkitektur.se
Instagram
@strategisk_arkitektur
Tattoo Parlour
by Strategisk Arkitektur
A rebellious 40-year-old celebrating a milestone in style. Inspired by tattoo culture, the HÅG Capisco is imagined as a bold and expressive character, shaped by symbols of identity, memory, and attitude.
Using vibrant pastel pink and green fabric pens, the studio covered the chair in a handdrawn mix of illustrations. Flames, skulls, flowers, fruit, an anchor, and a large “40” on the backrest are just a few examples layered across the surface in a joyful, spontaneous composition.
Playful and irreverent, the result reflects the Capisco’s rebellious spirit and its ongoing journey of self-expression and evolution.
Tengbom Arkitekter
Sketch
by Tengbom Arkitekter
tengbom
Tengbom’s interpretation of the HÅG Capisco reduces the chair to its most fundamental form: a sketch, a line, a free form that dances across the paper. It captures the essence of creation at its earliest stage, where movement and freedom define the beginning of any design process.
The team embraced the power of minimalism with a design wrapped entirely in crisp white fabric with bold black piping. The chair takes on a couture-like aesthetic, evoking the precision of tailored garments. This high-contrast outline emphasises the Capisco’s sculptural silhouette, allowing its shape to speak for itself with precision and clarity.
The result is both minimal and expressive. By stripping the chair back to its core, the design becomes a visual metaphor for creativity in its purest state.
The second event took the project to Gothenburg, where five creative teamsArkitektbyrån Design, Kaka Arkitekter, Kaminsky Arkitektur, Kanozi, and the Volvo Cars Workplace Design Teamcame together to reimagine the HÅG Capisco.
Hosted at Flokk’s local showroom, the event offered a relaxed and social setting for architects, collaborators, and guests to experience the results.
The following pages present each studio’s contribution in more detail.
and
The event brought together architects, creatives, and design enthusiasts to connect, reflect, and celebrate a timeless icon.
Colorful interiors, soft lighting,
contemporary furniture created the perfect backdrop for lively conversations.
Kaka Arkitekter
www kakaarkitekter.sel
Instagram @tengbom
The “Cosmopolitan”
by Kaka Arkitekter
Confident, vibrant, and ready to connect with the world, this chair imagines the HÅG Capisco as a seasoned traveller. It explores design through movement, memory, and a sense of place.
The chair is covered in soft gradients orange, sky blue, and green, with hand-drawn illustrations sketched in blue ink. A dotted line connects buildings and paths across the surface, creating a visual map that reflects cultural identity and personal experience.
The result is a poetic tribute to both local history and creative exploration, capturing the essence of design as a journey.
Kaminsky Arkitekter
Celebrating a life lived
by Kaminsky Arkitekter
Celebrate the years gone bythe life lived, the accidents and luck alike. This chair embraces the idea that when we mend with care, flaws and tears gain meaning. A blemish becomes a reason to refine, a mark of growth through use.
Patches of fabric have been sewn onto the chair, with visible stitching added in various places. These deliberate interventions highlight areas that appear worn or broken, turning signs of damage into thoughtful repairs.
The result is honest and reflective. Instead of concealing time, the chair acknowledges it, revealing how care and imperfection can become part of an object’s value. After 40 years, only what is untouched stays the same, but what has been changed carries a story.
A recycled tribute to Capisco
by Kanozi Arkitekter
Kanozi Architects approached their Capisco reinterpretation as a collaborative project centred on creative reuse. Everyone in the studio took part in the making process, contributing to a shared act of hands-on design.
Braided strips of recycled fabric were used to create a handwoven textile piece, which envelops the upper half of the chair like a soft, protective shell. The contrast between the chair’s sleek ergonomic form and the textured, homespun cover creates a powerful dialogue between modern design and nostalgic craftsmanship.
Celebrating sustainability and care, this piece transforms a workspace essential into a symbol of tactile memory, community, and mindful reuse.
Kanozi Arkitekter
Arkitektbyrån Design
www
arkitektbyrandesign.se
Instagram
@arkitektbyrandesign
A chair celebrates XL
by Arkitektbyrån Design
Each stitch honours the HÅG Capisco chair’s heritage. The embroidered grid, featuring the letters “XL,” carries layered meaning. XL represents 40 in Roman numerals, marking the chair’s four decades of design, while also suggesting something extra large, iconic, and enduring. The X marks the spot, your seat, supported by the Capisco’s distinctive shape.
A rhythmic grid of hand embroidery enhances the sculptural form of the chair, drawing attention to its flowing contours. The pattern nods to the fashion world, evoking exclusivity and quality, with a reference to iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton. The saddle seat and backrest are framed within the design, combining tailored precision with tactile warmth.
This interpretation celebrates the Capisco’s history of innovation and ergonomics through craftsmanship, repetition, and fashion-inspired detail.
Volvo Cars Workplace Design team
arkitektbyrandesign.se
@arkitektbyrandesign
40 years of active muscles
by Volvo Cars
Workplace Design team
Forty hand-embroidered muscles are stitched across the chair, one for each muscle engaged when sitting dynamically. The concept celebrates active sitting and highlights the Capisco’s design legacy through anatomical reference and movement.
Striking red embroidery is placed with deliberate asymmetry across the backrest, seat, and edges. The vivid threadwork evokes organic forms and adds bursts of colour and energy to the chair’s elegant silhouette. These stitched accents enhance the flowing shape without interrupting functionality.
This interpretation becomes a conversation between structure and spontaneity. It blends ergonomic intelligence with emotional depth, using thread to reflect both care and craftsmanship.
The third event took the project to the Netherlands, where six studios - AAARCHITECTEN, Casper Schwarz Architects, EGM Architecten, HEYLIGERS Architects, Kraaijvanger Architects, and up Architecturegathered in Rotterdam to present their interpretations of the HÅG Capisco.
Hosted at Flokk’s local showroom, the event brought together designers, clients, and collaborators to explore a new wave of creative expressions.
“We’re thrilled to see so much passion for the HÅG Capisco here in the Netherlands. The designers embraced it with creativity, heart, and surprising narratives.”
David Coenen, Country Manager, Flokk Netherlands
The following pages offer a closer look at each design.
Inspiring talks, good drinks, and great company in Rotterdam. Each chair told a unique story of design, movement, and craftsmanship.
Honouring Peter Opsvik’s vision and the timeless legacy of Capisco.
HEYLIGERS Architects
www
heyligersarchitects.nl
Instagram
@heyligersarchitects
HEY-HÅG
by HEYLIGERS Architects (Marleen Valstar)
Inspired by the chair’s 3D contours, this interpretation reimagines the Capisco as a topographical landscape. The design explores elevation, flow, and form through line and layering.
Leather laces are applied with precision to follow the chair’s complex shape, forming a relief reminiscent of topographic maps. Each line is tensioned to highlight the movement and curves of the seat and backrest. Painted contour lines extend the concept onto the base, continuing the visual language of terrain and elevation.
The result is a tactile journey across imagined hills and valleys, with the Capisco transformed into a sculptural study of geography and flow.
AAARCHITECTEN www aaarchitecten.nl
Instagram @aaarchitecten
Twister by AAARCHITECTEN
(Bart Steenkamer)
Playfully celebrating movement and variation, the design draws inspiration from the game Twister and reflects Peter Opsvik’s belief that “the best position is always the next one”.
The seat and backrest are upholstered with bold, colourful circles, each labeled with different body parts such as left leg, right elbow, and butt. A printed spinner in the centre of the seat adds an interactive element, encouraging users to shift positions in a light-hearted way.
By integrating the spirit of a game into the chair, the result promotes spontaneous micromovements, lightens the workplace atmosphere, and turns dynamic sitting into something both fun and beneficial.
Fingerspitz
by EGM Architecten
(Nelleke Minten, Avelien Thoben, and Jan Paul de Ridder)
Inspired by fingerprints, the pattern explores the chair’s tactile and ergonomic features while adding a layered, personal dimension. It celebrates individuality and echoes the Capisco’s dynamic, adjustable nature.
Organic, flowing lines are applied across the chair’s surface, creating a textured visual effect that enhances its sculptural form. The fingerprint motif reinforces the idea of uniqueness while drawing attention to the Capisco’s iconic shape and saddle seat.
The result quietly acknowledges the human touch behind every posture and movement. It connects the user’s experience to the chair’s role in shaping more personalised, flexible ways of working.
Casper Schwarz Architects www
casperschwarz.com Instagram
@casperschwarzarchitects
UNOFFICED CHAIR
by Casper Schwarz Architects (Casper Schwarz)
A bold and playful expression that challenges the norms of office furniture. This design strips away convention and embraces informality, leaving space for the user to decide its purpose.
Featuring powder-pink upholstery, loosely fitted fabric, and exposed seams with frayed edges, the chair breaks from traditional workplace aesthetics. It avoids rigid structure in favour of soft, organic forms and a patchworklike expression.
Instead of a clearly defined function, it offers openness. It can be a space for work, rest, play, or creative exploration. By removing expectations, the chair reflects a more inclusive and adaptable approach to modern life.
Kraaijvanger Architects www
kraaijvanger.nl
Instagram
@kraaijvanger_architects
Inertia
by Kraaijvanger Architects (Felicia Ureña)
Artistry and sustainability take centre stage through the use of bio-paint made from avocado seeds. The design explores fluidity, human presence, and environmental awareness while staying true to Opsvik’s vision of movement and adaptability.
Pigment is applied directly onto the fabric in soft, organic strokes, leaving behind visible brushwork and handprints. The marks are imperfect and natural, highlighting the beauty of process and decay. The result is a layered, painterly surface that challenges the expectation of uniformity in office design.
By allowing the raw texture of the paint to remain visible, the chair becomes both functional and expressive. It reflects a commitment to ecological responsibility and invites reflection on how we sit, how we move, and how we impact the world around us.
up Architecture
www
studio@uparchitecture.nl
Instagram @uparchitecture.nl
Form Follows Freedom
by up Architecture
(Anne
Boonstra, Yildez Veldhuis and Fleur de Wever)
Adaptability, sustainability, and timeless appeal are brought forward through radical simplicity. The design highlights the ergonomic clarity of the HÅG Capisco while drawing attention to its essential form.
Neutral, monochromatic upholstery allows the chair’s silhouette to stand on its own, uninterrupted and uncompromised. The embroidered phrase “dit is een stoel” (Dutch for “this is a chair”) serves as both a literal label and a conceptual reference. Inspired by René Magritte’s surrealist commentary, it challenges perception while affirming function. On the backrest, the word “up” adds a second layer, referring either to movement, or to the name of the collaborating studio.
The result connects the intuitive experience of sitting on a Capisco with architectural thinking. It becomes a quiet statement about form, elevation, and the power of restraint.
Designs
Following the editions in Sweden and the Netherlands, the HÅG Capisco Design Challenge arrived in Belgium. Another five top architecture studios - Architects in Motion, B Brand, B-bis Architecten, POLO Architects, and UAU Collectiv - reimagined the iconic chair, each creating a version that reflected their unique creative identity.
The results showcase the strength and diversity of Belgium’s design culture through bold and inventive interpretations of the classic Capisco silhouette. The following pages explore each studio’s contribution in more detail.
Friendly faces, bold designs, and a shared passion for sustainable creativity.
Architects and designers exchanged ideas over drinks and design stories. Laughter, inspiration, and innovation filled the space.
B-bis architecten
b-bis.be
@b_bisarchitecten
Capisco RE-RIDE
by B-bis architecten (Dirk Engelen,
in collaboration with Elke Hoste - Stiletto)
This denim-covered Capisco reflects a commitment to circular design, personal expression, and material storytelling. Familiar and tactile, it offers a new take on the chair’s iconic form.
The upholstery is made entirely from second-hand jeans sourced from Kringwinkel, featuring jacket-style seams, functional pockets, rivet buttons, and even a pen tucked into the front pocket. Every stitch and fade tells a story of past wear, now given new context through thoughtful tailoring and reuse.
The result is relaxed, resilient, and unapologetically personal. It combines the ruggedness of denim with the endurance of good design, celebrating authenticity, sustainability, and craftsmanship.
40 years, 10 years, 1 chair... a new day, a new beginning by UAUcollectiv
(Arsenii Kuznetsov)
Marking 40 years of the HÅG Capisco and 10 years of UAUcollectiv, this design combines tactile craftsmanship with graphic storytelling. The concept celebrates both legacy and creative momentum.
The upholstery transitions from deep sky blue to fiery red, evoking a radiant sunrise and symbolising new beginnings. Delicate hand-drawn calligraphy appears across the fabric and base, with repeated “40” motifs and rhythmic patterns that emphasise the passage of time and layered meaning.
With its sharp colour contrast, textured materials, and a blend of analog techniques and digitallooking forms, the chair becomes more than a seat. It invites reflection on heritage, time, and transformation.
Fringe Grid
by B BRAND architects (Ben Depuydt)
B BRAND architects reimagine the HÅG Capisco as a sculptural object through bold material choice and geometric form. The design brings together architectural expression, rhythm, and texture.
Over 100 metres of vibrant teal rope are hand-woven into a precise grid that wraps around the seat and backrest. The pattern contrasts sharply with the dark fabric beneath, while the free-hanging fringe adds movement and softness.
This layered approach transforms the Capisco into a statement piece. It blends craft and structure in a way that celebrates both the tactile and the sculptural qualities of the chair.
ReLeaf – ReForm
by Architects in Motion
(Toke Vanhove)
A celebration of nature, slowness, and sensory presence in design. Inspired by biophilic principles, this concept reimagines the HÅG Capisco as a tactile sculpture that brings the forest indoors.
Hand-cut, leaf-shaped fabric elements are stitched across the seat and backrest, crafted from repurposed upholstery swatches. The palette shifts from moss green to golden ochre, rust red, and warm brown, evoking autumn foliage. Words like “mindfulness,” “biophilia,” and “well-being” are inscribed on the base, reinforcing the message.
More than visual, the design invites touch and reflection. Through texture and material choice, the workplace becomes a place of pause, softness, and slow beauty.
Platform
by POLO Architects (Liesbeth Beernaert)
A bold yet playful expression of interdisciplinary collaboration. The concept celebrates transparency, process, and teamwork through a mix of texture, colour, and labelling.
The chair is clad in soft, waffletextured fabrics in multiple colours. The patchwork upholstery visually separates and celebrates different creative disciplines, with each fabric section symbolising architecture, urbanism, or interior design. Exposed seams and visible labels such as “business development” and “interior design” reinforce a sense of openness and collaboration.
The mix of earthy and vibrant tones highlights diversity and unity at once. Hand-stitched details and deliberately uneven finishing lend a handcrafted, human touch, suggesting work in progress, iteration, and adaptability.
HÅG
A brand by Flokk
At HÅG, we believe that sitting should never mean staying still. Our chairs are designed with movement in mind - supporting your body’s natural need for activity even while you work. Guided by the principles of Scandinavian design, every HÅG chair blends timeless aesthetics with smart functionality.
Every detail, from internal mechanisms to external form, is carefully engineered for quality and longevity. The result is a chair that not only looks beautiful, but feels comfortable and performs exceptionally - day after day, year after year.
Because humans are made to move, HÅG encourages dynamic sitting. Subtle motion helps improve posture, increase circulation, and keep you energized and focused throughout the day.
With HÅG, you’re not just sitting - you’re moving, thinking, and working better. It’s freedom, comfort, and design in perfect balance.
Flokk is a family of design-led brands creating workplace furniture that brings together ergonomics, aesthetics, and sustainability. From task chairs to collaborative seating, we help businesses and designers build environments where people thrive. With Scandinavian roots and global reach, everything we do is driven by one idea: to inspire great work.
