2015 has been an exciting year for Knoll, marked by the 100th anniversary from the birth of designer Harry Bertoia, the launch of a new lounge chair, and introducing new finishes for some of their timeless design pieces.
To celebrate the centennial of Harry Bertoia's birth, Knoll have launched a new plastic version of his famous side chairs and stools, available in six fresh new colours. This colourful modern take on the design classic makes it a bit more affordable and also adds a splash of colour to the silhouette of this truly timeless piece. The new chairs and stools are extremely comfortable and look great in both contract and residential environment.
The theme at Knoll's flagship Milan showroom during this year's Salone show was all about Bertoia, featuring sculptures and jewellery designed by the famous Italian-American designer, and followed by a series of events throughout the Knoll showrooms woldwide celebrating the 100th anniversary from his birth. The same theme was used by the Knoll London showroom in Clerkenwell for London Design Festival, where part of the event highlights was an evening with Harry's daughter, Celia Bertoia.
Salone del Mobile in Milan was also where the new Pilot Chair for Knoll was launched. The chair is a result of the collaboration between Knoll and the British award-winning design duo Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby (some of you might remember, these are the same guys who designed the London 2012 Olympic Torch). After designing the very successful series of sofas for Knoll in 2013, Barber & Osgerby are back with a modern, innovative and versatile lounge chair. The Pilot chair fits perfectly in both homes and offices, and is available in an elegant slim version, or in a padded soft version. The possibilities for specifying this chair are endless - you can choose between low back and high back, with or without arms, and for an extra element of playfulness, you can specify each of the arms, seat, and backrest in different colours fabric or leather.
"When designing for a company like Knoll, one continuously wonders how to place new ideas into such an iconic collection," Barber & Osgerby share. "Of course times have changed since the early Knoll pieces and we are more focused these days on such aspects as flexibility, customization and logistics as an integral part of our design. Our new Pilot chair not only responds to today’s needs, but also offers an elegant, innovative design for a different culture."
Sources: Knoll
