Knoll Celebrates 75 Years of Iconic Design for Home and Office at Salone Internazionale del Mobile

March 28, 2013

 

 

MILANO, Italy, March 28, 2013 — To mark its 75th anniversary, Knoll returns to the Salone Internazionale del Mobile with an innovative presentation of iconic and new residential and workplace designs.

The company's Salone exhibition, conceived by OMA, the collaborative practice co-founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Inside Outside, founded by Petra Blaisse, offers viewpoints on classic and contemporary designs, including "Tools for Life" a new collection of furniture by OMA, and a spirited new lounge furniture collection by London based designers Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby.

The exhibition also underscores Knoll's place in the modern evolution of design with complementary work by the pantheon of modern masters, including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia and Marcel Breuer.

Commenting on Knoll at Salone, Demetrio Apolloni, President, Knoll Europe, said, "Our Salone display highlights the essence of Knoll design innovation with new work by OMA and Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, while celebrating our brand's past, present and future."

Benjamin Pardo, Knoll design director, added, "OMA conceived our booth at the fair to underscore our founders' commitment to bring the benefits of modern design to both domestic and work environments. In the process, the OMA team realized a broader cultural collaboration to celebrate our 75th anniversary."

Introducing "Tools for Life" by OMA

"Tools for Life" by OMA offers a contemporary interface between furniture and people, supporting the ebb and flow of work and social life, while adjusting to the different needs of both.

An expanded presentation of the OMA collection, which consists of 11 designs, will be on view during the 2013 Salone Internazionale del Mobile at Prada's Milan exhibition space at via Fogazzaro, 36, where the pieces were first previewed during the Fall Men's Show earlier this year. Public exhibition hours are 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10.

Introducing the Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby Collection

A new collection of lounge furniture, occasional tables and a stool by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby offers a relaxed, contemporary attitude toward interior design.

The lounge furniture includes four individualized sized sofas, and three complementary ottomans. Available in a range of upholstery fabrics and leathers, the lounge furniture is distinguished by stitched seams that reinforce its architectural profile, softened by the curvature of cushions on each face. The signature cast aluminium leg of the furniture can be specified in chrome and painted finishes, including red and black.

A compact version of the lounge range is available as an arm chair as well as a two- and three-seat sofa. Scaled for the workplace, this grouping features a lower back and reduced seat depth.

Occasional tables and a stool foil the casual aesthetic of the soft seating. A visually assertive tripod aluminum base, visually contained by two rings, supports both round table tops and the wooden seat of the stool. Painted tripod base finishes include black, white and red, and can be paired with a variety of marble and leather table tops.

The Sofa Collection is now available in Europe; the stool and occasional tables will be available Fall 2013.

Modern always™

For 75 years Knoll has remained true to the Bauhaus design philosophy that modern furniture should complement architectural space, not compete with it. To this end, the company's Salone exhibition presents ideas and themes that reflect its rich design heritage of furniture, textiles and accessories with work grounded in clarity of form and honesty in materials.

Landmark collaborations with architects and designers resulting in such iconic work as Dining Tables and the Tulip Collection by Eero Saarinen; the Barcelona® Collection by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; the Bertoia Collection by Harry Bertoia; and the Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer remind Salone visitors of the contemporaneity and accessibility of Knoll's rich heritage.

About Knoll

Knoll is the recipient of the 2011 National Design Award for Corporate and Institutional Achievement from the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Since 1938, Knoll has been recognized internationally for creating workplace and residential furnishings that inspire, evolve, and endure. Today, its commitment to modern design, understanding of the workplace, and dedication to sustainable design have yielded a unique portfolio of products that respond and adapt to changing needs. Knoll is aligned with the U.S. Green Building Council and the Canadian Green Building Council and can help companies achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED workplace certification. Knoll is the founding sponsor of the World Monuments Fund Modernism at Risk initiative. knoll.com.

Contacts

For European-based Media Requests:
Jacqueline Platt Godsey
Corbin-Hillman Communications
646 233-0465
[email protected]

Michelle Hillman
Corbin-Hillman Communications
646 773-6371
[email protected]

For Media Requests in North America:
Tony Nikolla
Edelman
212 642-7798
[email protected]

David E. Bright
Knoll, Inc.
212 343-4135
[email protected]