When it comes to designers, chances are you are well versed with clothing and accessory veterans like Louis Vuitton, Donatella Versace or contemporary designers like Alexander McQueen. But what about furniture and interior décor? These master craftsmen and genius designers have changed the way modern man looks at furniture. Yet, their names are only well known in certain circles, while their genius goes unacknowledged by the larger population.
Here is a list of 5 iconic 20th century furniture designers who revolutionized that way we look at modern office furniture.
Charles and Ray Eames
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The quintessential modernist couple designed and created furniture, buildings and other art forms including exhibitions and film. They founded and spear headed one of the most creative design offices in post World War II America and their work reflected their contagious enthusiasm for life and art. Together they created some of the most iconic furniture of the 20th Century that shaped the way people looked at objects and designs.
One of their most famous designs is the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. The designer couple wasn’t looking to change the world, when they set out to design a chair that had the ‘receptive look of a well-used first baseman’s mitt’, as a birthday gift to friend. However, they did just that with this iconic chair which has since evolved into a hallmark of high end executive office furniture.
Marcel Breuer
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This famous Hungarian-American architect and furniture designer was one of the pioneers of the “modern” style of design. He was one the most influential designers of the 20th Century. Breuer was also a very successful architect, known for designing buildings like the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and the monastic Master Plan and Church at St John’s Abbey in Minnesota.
Marcel Breuer’s designs have become representative of the philosophy and domestic culture of an entire era. He is best known for his work with extruded steel to create lightweight metal furniture. Inspired by the strength and flexibility of his bicycle, he applied the same material and construction principles to chair design and thus his master piece, the ‘Wassily Chair’ came to life.
Phillippe Starck
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Son of a French aeronautical engineer, Starck jump started his design career by designing the interiors of two nightclubs in Paris. Impressed by his work, the President of France, Francois Mitterand asked him to refurbish one of his private apartments.
Starck’s designs are subversive, intelligent and always interesting, making him one of the great designers of our time. The Hudson visitor chair by Starck is amongst the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th Century. It was designed by Starck for the Hudson Hotel in New York City. Each Hudson chair takes 8 hours to polish. It is included in the design collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Jean Prouve
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Born in Nancy, France, Jean Prouve was a craftsman, designer, rchitect, manufacturer, teacher and an engineer. His career spanned over sixty years during which he produced furniture, prefabricated houses and facades. His work had a stylistic appeal that combined bold elegance with economy.
While designing the Standard Chair, Jean Prouve took into account the fact that chairs bear the most weight on their back legs. Tabular steel piping was used in the front legs while the back legs were made from voluminous hollow sections that passed the weight to the ground.
Jean Prouve is considered one of the most innovative architects and furniture designers of the 20th Century. His life and work has been inspirational to many. The Standard Chair reflects his artistry in every way and serves as a beacon of modern designing philosophy.
Mies Van Der Rohe
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He was one of the most influential architects and designers of the 20th Century. Mies’ minimalistic style proved to be extremely popular with the elite and the masses. His famous aphorism, ‘less is more’ is still widely used by many. By emphasizing open spaces and revealing the material used in construction, he helped define modern architecture.
Mies was highly respected in Europe for his innovative structures which include the famous Barcelona Pavilion for which he designed his most iconic creation, The Barcelona Chair. It is one of the most recognized objects of the 20th Century and is a tribute to the marriage of design and fine craftsmanship.
Meis’ work, radiates his confidence, rationality and elegance. Beyond merely affecting our lives, his works endow them with greater significance and beauty.
