“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.
Does the world need another chair? Certainly that’s a reasonable question to ask when the planet is already populated by hundreds, if not thousands, of different chairs—chairs for working, dining, relaxing, playing, napping, waiting, or, even, admiring—some are a wonder to behold but awkward to sit in and some are so comfortable that one is reluctant to get up again.
That legacy continues today, as seen in this latest release by Knoll™, and their collaboration with Formway Design, the Wellington, New Zealand-based collaborative. It’s not a chair. It’s a movement. Introducing Generation by Knoll™. The first chair that lets you sit how you want. The Generation chair offers a new standard of comfort and unrestrained movement, supporting the range of postures and work styles typical of today’s workplace. Discover how Generation’s flexing and supportive features enable individual expression, and explore how this revolutionary work chair reflects our commitment to environmental sustainability.
It’s worth noting that the concept of seating that moves as you move was not entirely new. In fact, one could argue that the bean bag chair of the 1960s, which quickly became a ubiquitous symbol of hippie informality, could be considered a forerunner of Generation by Knoll: each time the user shifts position on the bean bag chair, the “beans” (actually polystyrene beads) rearrange themselves to support you—comfort is entirely a result of automatic responsiveness. For Knoll, it was time to take this idea of elastic design—where the product rearranges itself in response to its user—to a new level.
It looks as though it will break out into song at any moment or clamp its jaws around your body as you sit in it.Â
Lounge chair by Warren Platner, 1966 for Knoll
Atop of an unusually small pedestal base for such a large seating surface, the Platner lounge chair is an impact maker in any environment.   A beautiful mixture of metal rods and soft cushy textile make for a sculptural look and a cozy sit.  Designed in 1966 by Warren Platner, for Knoll, this chair has potential for retro glam and sophisticated modern. Â
 When accompanied by its coordinating side table, this chair becomes parent and small tot.Â
Platner chair with side table
The side table also features metal rods with a glass disc that perfectly fits inside the circumference of its top. It is sweet and subtle yet the light bouncing off the torso of this table has the making for a small but sparkly dance party. The Grandmother of this collection of course is the dining table that allows the dinner guest to gaze inside a tunnel of arched metal stems through its glass top surface while enjoying their meal.Â
Platner Dining Table
Platner Dining Collection
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This table is like a giant piece of elegant jewelry for your home, as is the whole Platner collection.Â
This time of year all I can think of is a hot beach afternoon anywhere warmer than here-
On that note “Bikini” comes to mind….. the Eames wire chair benefits from a bikini as well….
Introduced in 1951 the lightweight bent wire chair designed by Charles and Ray Eames and produced by Herman Miller has the option of a criss-cross two piece leather pad (the “bikini”)
As a part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this Eames wire chair would also be striking in your home or office to drool over day after day.
 We should consider spending some of this cold weather time in the museums and dream of the beach.
Eames Elephant, Charles and Ray Eames 1945 by Vitra
Originally designed by Charles and Ray Eames in molded plywood, this adorable child’s stool/table/toy/best friend is now produced by Vitra in several different colours of plastic.  See more about Vitra Elephant by Charles and Ray Eames.
I was recently introduced to a really inspiring video on Emeco’s website, www.emeco.net.  I always knew that the Navy chair was designed for the US Navy, and that it has a 150 year warranty… but I never really knew what a cool all around company Emeco is until I explored their website in more detail. These chairs are handbuilt and quality tested to the nines. It takes 77 steps and 116 hands to make a single Navy 1006 chair. As said in one of the video clips… “These chairs are made from blood, sweat, tears and love” and they’re built for life… err… two lives. Green? Any chair that lasts more than a lifetime is the earth’s friend… especially when it’s also made of 80% recycled aluminum.
I used to want one of these chairs because I loved the way it looked… now I want one because I love the way it’s made.Â
I say “Long and Hard” and what comes to mind?Of course it would be a freakishly amazing new modern lighting fixture with beautiful molded outer surfaces that look like liquid metal by Philippe Starck for FLOS.Whew… that was a mouthful.
When I learned of this cleverly named light, I was reminded of an image I stumbled upon in a Cassina publication involving Mr. Starck, again, alluding to the act that shall not be named.Okay…… sex.Leather handles attached to a Prive sofa?What could those possibly be used for?It may have been the naked woman’s arm draped inside the handle in the photograph that tipped me off.For those less inclined to bomp sha bomp in restraints, it can also be ordered sans the handcuffs.
sex is a beautiful thing.
UPDATE 2009/04/29: A retraction… of sorts/err… advisory of sorts. So… don’t set your heart on the Long and Hard light fixture. Turns out it wasn’t the most appropriate blog subject for this geographic… not available in the North American market But still very cool.
After a seemingly endless search for modern outdoor furniture, I finally found Royal Botania!!! Not only does it look absolutely amazing, it is incredibly comfortable. I don’t know if you have ever lounged by a pool for half a day, but I have and let me tell you it is not a terribly comfortable experience for your ass unless you have a great lounge chair.  To be totally blunt, I never even think about my ass when I am lounging on my NINIX lounger! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, they tell you it is ergonomic or whatever that really means, but the proof for me has been a totally fidgetless afternoon by the pool.  The Batyline or mesh loungers don’t even need cushions to make them anymore comfortable. Besides, those cushions get wet and disgusting quickly and who needs that! With the mesh loungers, just hose them down and wipe them off and they are good to go. I have had the loungers for 3 years now and can’t imagine relaxing in anything else. Give your ass a break and try The Royal Botania NINIX lounger – you too can have a fidgetless day by the pool!
It’s been 15 years since the Aeron chair came to the market and revolutionized office seating. This chair has become a design icon and what is even more unbelievable is that it has held that position for such a long time. Nobody could have predicted the success of this chair. It has literally dominated the ergonomic seating market for years. I’ve been wondering for a few years now when the Aeron will be knocked from its top spot on the podium of office excellence.
So, who else would take a shot at dethroning the Aeron other than Herman Miller. I mean why wait for someone else to do it.
Seven years in the making and Herman Miller has finally released the Embody chair. Designed by Bill Stumpf (one of the original designers of the Aeron, recently deceased and just short of seeing the completion of this project) and Jeff Weber. We have a couple of Embody chairs in the showroom and people are starting to fight over them. Herman Miller took their time with this one and the initial response is that they have definitely got it right.
It is a one size fits all chair that actually claims to be good for you.
All that and it is Green in that it is 95% recyclable and cradle to cradle silver certified.
The timing on this couldn’t be better, because we now have “Lifework Portfolio” in the showroom which offers home office solutions for everyone and the two go together like milk and cookies.
When I was a little kid, a livingroom pillow fort was my own pre-freedom version of today’s studio apartment. Structure, privacy, colour and particularly spatial planning are some of the major considerations when building a skookum livingroom fort. Not unlike today’s real estate market, location was also a very important factor… the edge of the sofa always worked well in conjunction with the coffee table, but the back of the sofa (if freestanding) allowed a brilliant “lean to” opportunity. Of course, a fort is an intimate place for your favorite things, snuggles, safety, private thoughts, and only your most favorite people . Thankfully, for nostalgic adults with no less need for these things, Vitra has the solution. Feast your eyes on the Alcove sofa by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec:
Now that’s fort making at its finest. No roof… but who needs it with towering walls, zippered corners, and a chrome tube surround. Beautiful from any angle, the alcove brings our childhood efforts to fruition with a perfect elegance. My thanks to Ronan and Erwan for nurturing a human need for “snuggle space” in a sophisticated and beautiful way.
But still very cool.
