High-end project management studio, Furu, handles every step of the way.
There is no challenge that creative project specialist Furu cannot handle. The Belgium-based, internationally-minded company’s ethos is rooted in resourcefulness, efficiency and poise – underlined by strong, design-led thinking.
Furu co-founders Nadia Saksou and Aminata Sambe bring together a wealth of global professional experience. Their impressive joint portfolio spans a range of production work within the creative sphere, from fashion shows and events to interiors, retail, architecture, and film. This project management studio leads through ingenuity, a can-do attitude, attention to detail, and a passion for subtly and competently bringing designers’ dreams to life.
Furu stands tall
The studio’s name, ‘Furu’, is the Swedish word for ‘pine tree’, a plant able to grow tall and strong in any environment and condition. This concept represents Saksou and Sambe’s spirit, which draws on their extensive, proven knowledge in the world of project management and production.
Past clients have included global companies such as fashion brands Chanel and Dries van Noten, and the studio of celebrated architect Glenn Sestig. Furu’s global outlook means Saksou and Sambe – who speak seven languages between them – work on a variety of international projects, permanent and temporary, across the luxury and design industries, hotels, museums, private individuals, and more. At the heart of their practice is always a thoughtful, highly curated approach that can be applied to creative project management that speaks the client’s language.
Production 'Dries' a film by Reiner Holzemer.
‘It might be surprising to hear this, but there is no real difference between organising a fashion show, building a house or producing a documentary. Throughout our career, we have gathered experience in all those different sectors, and more. We always work to high standards and specific client requirements, manage planning and budget, source the right people and materials, and curate ideas in the most creative way possible,’ the Furu co-founders say.
Production 'Martin Margiela, in his own words' a film by Reiner Holzemer.
The pair shares a strong background in marketing, advertising and languages, as well as solid experience in event production through their past roles at premier special events company Villa Eugénie. These experiences, combined with Saksou and Sambe’s intrinsic bold yet always carefully balanced approach to problem solving, form the core of Furu’s unique skill set – challenges is what this studio thrives on.
An assignment surrounded by the Baltic Sea
Furu just completed two new homes in the wild and raw Swedish countryside. The project is nestled in a pine-filled plot facing the Baltic Sea, on the north side of the island of Gotland in Sweden – idyllically located next to a nature reserve and photographer Johan Hellström’s Fabriken Furillen development. The two homes belong to a complex of five residences whose architecture and masterplan were conceived by award winning studio Olsson Lyckefors Arkitektur.
Furu led the interior design of two of the homes, from collaborating with the architects, tailoring the designs to their clients’ needs to composing the overall mood and décor inside and sourcing the furniture and products for each space. The design was carried out with respect towards the natural environment, following a site-specific approach. Sustainability was a key priority in Furu’s plan, ensuring that natural materials, such as timber, are used throughout. Each space features its own identity, rich in bespoke details while rooted in a minimalist, Nordic-inspired style. The homes include a mix of tailor-made and off-the-shelf elements, bringing together vintage and contemporary design by leading creatives.
Project Management, Furillen 1 50
Portrait, Aminata Sambe
Client references
https://www.glennsestigarchitects.com/
https://www.villaeugenie.com/clients/chanel
https://www.villaeugenie.com/clients/dries-van-noten
https://www.driesvannoten.com/silentarchive/
https://www.villaeugenie.com/clients/hermes
