The epitome of revolutionary design, furnishings brand Knoll is renowned for its unprecedented, outside-the-box aesthetic that changes the way we think about furniture. A brand that continuously carves its own place in design history, its Knoll that can be trusted to deliver a stream of expertly crafted pieces that challenge the status quo.
It was a simple vision that inspired German-born designer Hans Knoll to move to New York City in 1938 and create his own furnishings brand: to create great designs that would enrich and improve people’s lives both at home and at work. A simple idea, but one which was executed superbly and in a way that no-one had quite managed before, it wasn’t long before the forward-thinking creative began making waves in the design sphere. In 1943, Knoll was joined by his wife, Florence, who crafted the now renowned Planning Unit, an interior plan that paved the way for offices for years to come. Not only the first office creation of its kind, but the first to be run by a woman, this was a profound moment that cemented the brand’s status as a revolutionary design force to be reckoned with, something which still rings true today.
From the coveted Platner set — a dining table and set of chairs that boast undulating shapes crafted by hundreds of curved steel rods, to the utterly iconic, leather upholstered Barcelona armchair, the unique, sculptural Bertoia collection, and the Bauhaus-inspired, instantly recognisable Cesca chair, with its sensual and simple curved steel frame and woven cane seat and back, Knoll’s designs have not only pushed the envelope in the world of modernist furniture design, but have proved enduring additions to home that are as desirable after years (or decades) of use as they are the day they’re purchased.
For those feeling inspired, locally Studio Italia stocks a wide variety of the brand’s original designs and is currently offering a rare discount that sees many of Knoll’s most iconic pieces reduced by up to 60 percent in-store. From the ever-enduring Wassily armchair to the Platner dining table and matching side chair, to the simple but stunning Saarinen side table, see this as your opportunity to secure a piece of history that will see you well into the future.
