Knoll at
Salone del Mobile 2019
Milan, 11 April 2019 - At the 59th Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Knoll presents new designs by Piero Lissoni and Barber & Osgerby alongside reimagined Modern classics. The installation, designed by OMA, mimics Marcel Breuer's original design of the Whitney Museum of American Art.
Knoll is also celebrating the Bauhaus centennial, presenting new collections and iconic products that together emphasize the Knoll modernist tradition.
The Pavilion
Designed by OMA
For 2019, Knoll has once again called on OMA to design its stand at Salone del Mobile. The project draws inspiration from the minimalism of Marcel Breuer, as applied in his original design for the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Taking formal and material cues from the original space, the OMA pavilion’s focal point is a replica of the modular suspended ceiling Breuer designed for the museum.
Beneath the signature ceiling, modularity, prefabrication and geometry give rise to a versatile, functional space. OMA chose different materials that reinforce the concept of variety and create perfect backdrops for the products of the Knoll collection: tactile and solid, organic and artificial. The path through the stand reveals nuanced updates to iconic Knoll designs, mixed with new work, harmoniously shifting from subtle details to elegant, unexpected ensembles.
New Designs
Gould
by Piero Lissoni
Piero Lissoni's new family of classic-contemporary style upholstered furniture, Gould, is inspired by the culture and architecture of the American fifties. Pieces from the collection rely on ample proportions and a deep sit to ensure maximum comfort.
Lissoni’s goal was to simplify the traditional idea of the sofa without compromising on quality and performance. The collection is composed of Large, X-Large and XX-Large sofas. The structural side panels can be upholstered with a range of fabrics or finished in wood, offering a material diversity that makes for a more dynamic aesthetic.
KN04 & KN05
by Piero Lissoni
KN04 and KN05 are new additions to Lissoni's KN Collection. KN04 is a compact chair with a fixed, four legged base and KN05 is a two-seat settee with the same base. The thin metal structure evokes a visual weightlessness and complements the larger pieces in the rest of the KN Collection.
The distinguishing feature of the two new additions is the shell. Smooth and well-proportioned, the shape of KN04 and KN05 echoes the elegance of Eero Saarinen's iconic Tulip Collection.
KN04 and KN05 are both contemporary and highly functional, able to enhance the overall design of a space without using up too much of the floor plan. Similar to the rest of the KN Collection, the new additions boast a durable construction, making them suitable for contract applications as well as residential.
Smalto
by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby
The Smalto collection of enameled steel tables, designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, epitomize design purity and graphic simplicity. The tabletop creates a tangible thickness thanks to its curved, almost sculptural edge. Barber & Osgerby further enhanced the piece's visual heft with a robust support structure that offers exceptional stability, reminiscent of the Brutalist architecture of the space.
The collection includes a round and oval table both available in a range of rich colors, perfect for making a space come alive. On the enamel process, Barber and Osgerby commented, "enamel is a really strong material and offers a tactility that cannot be replicated by other finishes. The colors you can achieve through this process have a real depth and vibrancy."
Modern Classics
In keeping with the brand’s “Modern Always” ethos, these new designs are presented alongside modern classics by Florence Knoll, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia. Honoring the brand’s historical ties to the Bauhaus, Knoll has also created commemorative, “Bauhaus Editions” of the MR Collection and the Barcelona Chair®. In addition, the display features Lissoni’s recently introduced Avio Sofa System and Red Baron bookcase.
We can truly say that ‘Knoll is always modern because modern always works,’ based on the underlying principles of our company: the commitment to design quality and the conviction that design – as Florence Knoll said – means the ability to understand the needs of the client, to solve a problem with integrity and clarity. This will always be modern.
Knoll Celebrates Bauhaus
Knoll Celebrates Bauhaus
In addition to the pavilion, which will be at the Salone del Mobile fairground until Sunday, April 14, Knoll is also featuring "Knoll Celebrates Bauhaus," an exhibition curated by OMA in collaboration with Domitilla Dardi, design curator and historian, at its Piazza Bertarelli 2 showroom, April 9th – 14th.
“We felt strongly about making this project become a concrete reality precisely during a week of such great importance for international design,” Demetrio Apolloni, President of Knoll Europe, explained. “It is an exhibition that underscores the strong bond between our company and the Modern Movement.”
Experience the exhibition here: Knoll Celebrates Bauhaus
