Herman Miller’s new office chair, SAYL by Yves Behar, has finally arrived at Gabriel Ross. We receivied our stock last week and the chair exceeded our expectations in comfort and appearance. Although we have only received stock of the Basic black version for now, there is more stock on the way soon in the Fully Loaded and Executive models.
Click here to read our original post on the SAYL chair. The Basic model that we now have in stock retails for only $448.00 – a significant triumph for Herman Miller and Behar’s hopes to create a well designed and fully functioning office chair that is accessible to a wider audience. Click here to purchase yours now.
SAYL’s webbed back is part of the “unframed” design – providing full flexibility and movement for the user. “Less is more” seems to be the mantra for this chair – it’s extremely comfortable AND feels supportive at the same time.
The Oklahamo Museum of Art with Vitra Design Museum is featuring “George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher” February 3rd – May 8th. The first complete retrospective of Nelson’s work will include over 120 objects including chairs, clocks, lamps, benches, etc., and also over 50 documents that include drawings, photos, and films.
photo: www.modernica.net
Nelson was one of the most prominent American designers of the 20th century in various areas spanning architecture, industrial design, and photography. He was also an influential lecturer, curator, writer and publicist. For over two decades Nelson was the design director for Herman Miller, allowing him the opportunity to work closely with other canons of mid century modern design such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi.
Nelson Bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Marshmallow Sofa by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Swag Leg Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller
Coconut Chair and Ottoman by George Nelson - photo: Photo: Vitra Design Museum Archive
Herman Miller just recently re-introduced the Nelson Basic Cabinetry series – an excellent collection of cabinet coordinates that can be put together to create a built-in look or used individually as nightstands or side tables. The introduction included Nelson’s bench with a new metal base option. View these products on our website, here.
Nelson Bench with Bookcase Cabinet for Herman Miller
As if you need another excuse to visit Oklahoma… but in case you did, this retrospective show is it. There may be opportunities to see George Nelson’s original product designs in retail stores (although, even these are few and far between), but this is a rare chance to get a glimpse of the artist’s personal world and thoughts through his drawings and writings and connect it all together in one space.
Read more on this exhibition on the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s website, here.
View and purchase George Nelson products on our website, here.
Butterfly Stool by Sori Yanagi for Vitra, 1954 - photo: vitra.com
A butterfly, a bird, a whale’s tail … there have been several comparisons drawn from this stool for several animals, insects, and various forms of organic design. This beautiful sculptural seat is made of two pieces of molded plywood joined together. Stunning from every angle, the Butterfly creates a gentle, thin silhouette as a result of the negative space in the body (or lack there of) of the stool.
The Butterfly is available in two sizes and in three different wood finishes: Maple, Palisander, and Cherry veneer. There is also a matching red cushion available, although I can’t imagine wanting to cover up the perfect symmetrical seam on top of this piece.
Butterfly Stool - photo: kullotamago.jugem.jp
See the Butterfly Stool on our website, here.
Visit Vitra’s website, here.
Emeco’s 111 Navy Chair, made from 111 plastic Coke bottles, had an exciting year. It was a big hit during its debut at Milan’s Furniture Fair in April and made waves (er… icebergs?) in London while frozen in a one-ton block of ice.
Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com
Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com
The 111 chair eventually made its way into the hands/spaces of the Serpentine Gallery in London, Whole Foods in Austin TX, McDonalds in Tulsa OK, Various universities and college’s across the US, the Conran Shop in London and Tokyo, and many others.
Serpentine Gallery, London - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011
Whole Foods, Austin TX and McDonalds, Tulsa OK - photo: Emeco's AlumiNews Edition Jan. 2011
The chair also received distinguished design awards such as The Good Design Award, and the IF Design Award. Emeco also claimed a Distinction award at the Rebrand Competition and the 111 was honoured by the Interior Design Magazine BoY Awards.
Emeco's 111 Navy Chair - photo: emecowithcoke.com
Find the 111 Navy Chair on our website, here.
See emecowithcoke.com, here.
Visit Emeco’s website, here.
Sign up to recieve Emeco’s AlumiNews, here.
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec - photo credit: ola rindal
Maison et Object have selected Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec as one of their “Creators of the Year” as result of the large impact that they have made on the French design scene. Interior architects Gilles and Boissier and architect Edouard François join the Bouroullec brothers in the honour, having also been named “2011 Designers – On the Cutting Edge of Creation”.
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are the designers of many favorites here at Gabriel Ross including the modular plastic screen Algue, Slow Chair, and the Vegetal Chair for Vitra, and the Panier Basket for Kartell.
Algue, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra
Slow Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra
Vegetal Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra
Panier Basket, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Kartell
See these products and more at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s website, here.
Visit Maison et Objet’s website, here.
Lost your remote between the sofa cushions lately? How about your coffee?
Lost in Sofa by Daisuke Motogi
Chances are, you have never lost your coffee in a sofa before, although, depending on the contents of your cup, you may consider early Monday morning’s mishap during breakfast television a “loss”. Daisuke Motogi, of Daisuke Motogi Architecture, plays with this common experience producing: “Lost in Sofa” – a chair that is built to house all kinds of things between it’s waffle style cushions.
Prop your blackberry up between the arm cushions to ensure you’ll be able to find it when you leave, and stuff your book in the side of the chair to pick up again later.
I’m picturing this chair loaded full of goodies at my fingertips for a snuggly night in … perhaps a vase of tulips, a glass of wine, a bar of chocolate, a DVD, a pair of slippers, my crochet hook and yarn, my laptop… er… ok, the computer might be a little heavy for this application – although, if I only had an iPad… (hint hint, Ross)
Motogi’s website has this to say about the concept:
Things often get lost under the sofa. It’s ordinary for a coin which slipped out of your pocket,
or a never-to-be-found remote to be accidentally found in between/underneath the sofa cushions.
Maybe you’ll find a forgotten 10,000yen bill that you once hid there…
This month, Herman Miller launched its latest addition to an already monster collection of exceptional task chairs. At a price point starting out well below the infamous Aeron and most recent Embody chairs, “SAYL”, by Yves Behar, is accessible to a wider consumer scope. True to Herman Miller’s reputation, top notch design and function did not suffer as a result of the attractive price tag. This chair is lovely to look at: sculpturally impressive with a minimal approach and boasts the ergonomics that this design house is famous for.
SAYL by Yves Behar for Herman Miller
SAYL
Here’s Herman Miller’s product story on SAYL:
People at their best live unframed, going beyond expectations to surprise and delight us. With SAYL, we set out to design and build a chair family that gives form to that spirit. Inspired by the principles of suspension bridges, the frameless back of the SAYL work chair encourages a full range of movement while the suspension back material keeps you cool—all with an extremely small environmental impact. It is everything a Herman Miller chair should be. At a very attainable price.
Inspired by San Fransisco’s Golden Gate bridge, SAYL is available in several colour combinations including neutral tones and some bright accent colours, making it appropriate for various settings.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Fransisco
Read more about the design story on Herman Miller’s site here.
Konstantin Grcic has been named Designer of the Year, 2010 by Design Miami. Grcic’s “Netscape” installation will be a featured at the 6 day event held in December. Grcic is a prolific German industrial designer with many works well recognized in the furniture industry. Magis, one of Gabriel Ross’ newest partners, produces his “360°” series and “One” family of products:
360° Family by Konstantin Grcic
One chair by Konstantin Grcic
His “Netscape” chair is a hammock style hanging seat meant to promote movement and environmental engagement, rejecting a static sitting experience. 24 of these chairs will be hanging at Design Miami and Grcic suggests that you might find him sitting in one of them during the event looking to chat with his viewers. Check out this video interview on the Huffington Post for a preview of “Netscape” and a unique glimpse into this designer’s studio practice.
2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Pierre Paulin’s iconic chair, the Orange Slice. Designed in 1960, this chair is still classic, modern, and beautiful and will certainly remain this way for another 50 years and then some, I’m sure.
“A chair should be more than simply functional. It should be friendly, fun, and colourful.” – Pierre Paulin
Artifort, the licensed manufacturer for Paulin’s designs, is launching an anniversary edition of the Orange Slice in a unique pearl chrome frame and in two fabric choices: Anime & Woton by Swedish fabric manufacturer, Väveriet. The anniversary edition will also have a special label, and come with a pin and a postcard collection featuring the chair in settings appropriate to each decade of it’s life.
“Form is a mystery that defies description but brings people pleasure.”
- Alvar Aalto
Artek is different from most companies in that they have a huge product portfolio from the Aalto’s, which was created in the 1930′s. His designs, their ideology, are still the backbone of what Artek does. Artek can’t compete with the big companies that push out lots of products, so they don’t do a new design if there isn’t an innovation in the materials or manufacturing. That’s why Artek often works with architects.
