Greta Magnusson Grossman was born in Sweden in 1906 but lived and worked in California for most of her life.
She is behind design classics such as the lamps "Cobra" and "Grasshopper", but she was also a pioneering architect who designed several houses in Los Angeles.
She had a great influence on the architectural style known as California Modern, says Professor Harriet Harriss at the Pratt Institute in New York, who is working on a book about Greta Magnusson Grossman.
But the architect and designer has never received the recognition she deserves, according to Harriet Harriss.
Swedish designer and architect Greta Magnusson Grossman with her classic desk lamp Cobra.
Photo: Design stories
- They say California Modern but it was actually Scandinavian Modern.
The stream was given an American name, although it was directly inspired by Scandinavian design.
Greta Magnusson was a great pioneer for that current, says Harriet Harriss in the series Design Stories.
Want to save the houses
But the land on which Greta Magnusson Grossman's house stands has increased exponentially in value and architecture experts are now worried that several of the houses are in danger of being demolished.
- How do we save her work?
How do we show that it is valuable and important?
says Harriet Harriss.
In Hudiksvall, on the other hand, one of Greta Magnusson Grossman's houses remains - completely intact.
Harriet Harriss wants it to be a museum.
“Have a diamond”
- Most Swedes do not realize that they have a diamond among them.
A wonderful cultural asset that has been greatly neglected and forgotten.
Swedes have a great opportunity to become aware of it, she says and continues:
- It is the DNA itself - not only for Scandinavian Modern but also for California Modern.
The clues to all her works are in a single house in this secluded place in Sweden.
The Grasshopper lamp which is one of Greta Magnusson Grossman's most famous designs.
Photo: Design stories
The series Design Stories is broadcast on Wednesdays at 9.30 pm on SVT1 and is already available on SVT Play. The second episode, which is about Greta Magnusson Grossman, will be broadcast on 24 February.