During design festivals, installations and pop-ups are not an uncommon sight. Milan Design Week 2026 saw the rise of giant inflatable structures, luxury fashion houses hosted legacy design brands, exclusive collabs bridged industries, and more. Last month in Copenhagen, 3daysofdesign was no different.
In the Danish capital city, the streets were full of site-specific activities—from a larger-than-life Alvar Aalto vase to a hair salon-turned-gallery showcasing textile and ceramic collections. Tucked away in the Baum und Pferdgarten flagship store was an installation by Polish artist, designer, and founder of eponymous modern accessories brand, Zofia Chylak. The oversize lace work tapped into this large-format concept, while digging into a shared cultural history between Denmark and Poland through a specific materiality.
Created for the occasion, the lace installation acts as a delicate—yet dynamic—entryway into Baum und Pferdgarten’s interior. Drawing on traditional bobbin lace techniques reworked through a modern lens, the airy net-like fabric stands in stark contrast to the cherry red doorframe behind. Blending modern design sensibilities with a heritage craft, the sculptural doorframe feels distinctly chic, with a playful horse motif that speaks to the brand’s name (which translates literally to “Tree and Horse Garden”).
Rikke Baumgarten, Zofia Chylak, Helle Hestehave.
Still, the equine theme has deeper roots. Chylak found inspiration during visits to the Thorvaldsens Museum in Copenhagen, which housed a plaster model of Polish royal Prince Józef Poniatowski riding a horse. The actual Danish-designed sculpture stands today in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw; it speaks to the long political and cultural history of the two countries. (The sculpture was recast and gifted to Poland by the Danish government in 1951 after the Warsaw Uprising.)
Photo by Piotr Maciaszek, courtesy MVPR.
Photo by Piotr Maciaszek, courtesy MVPR.
The installation also references a recent Chylak collection of hand-made jewelry, bags, and accessories inspired by traditional Polish craft, such as amber beading and Wilanów-style embroidery. Named Chylak Heritage, the project includes the Bobowa Lace Collection, inspired by the rich tradition of bobbin-lacemaking rooted in Bobowa, Poland.
A shawl with Wilanów-style embroidery by Chylak
Photography courtesy of MVPR; select images by Piotr Maciaszek.
