Eric Sigfrid Persson began working as a carpenter apprentice from the age of thirteen. Two years later fhe worked as bricklayer for his father why learning to design via correspondence course by Hermods. In 1917, Persson got a job as a carpenter in Malmö and continued to study during the evenings.
Persson worked and studied in Denmark until 1921 when he returned to Sweden where he founded a construction company in 1925. In 1929 Persson built his first apartment block on Davidshallsgatan in Malmö which became his breakthrough as an architect. During the 1930’s he designed several well-known functionalistic housing areas in Malmö, including Malmgården (1934-34), Ribershus (1937-38) and Friluftsstaden (1944-48). On the later Persson worked with Erik Bülow-Hübe, and the first part of the area was opened during the exhibition Vi bo i Friluftsstaden in 1944.
During the 1950’s and 60’s Persson designed several similar areas in Södertälje, Huskvarna and Nykvarn. For the Ribershus project in Malmö, Persson also introduced the first maintenance-free aluminum window, which was internationally patented by his son. After suffering a coronary in the late 1960’s, Persson had to cut back his work as an architect and builder, which in turn led him to the less stressful work of furniture design.
During the 1970’s Persson created furniture in extruded aluminium such as the resting chairs Lysmasken (eng. The glow worm) for Möbelkultur and Sitting Typ E3 for Expo Nord, both in 1972. His first collection of furniture was shown at Form/Design Center in Malmö the same year, and four years later he was awarded a gold- and a silver medal for his designs at the Innovation fair in Geneva.
Eric Sigfrid Persson died in 1983 at the age of 85.
