Eight Decades Strong
Knoll celebrates its 80th year by launching collections that reaffirm the brand’s commitment to innovative and timeless design
Knoll celebrated its 80th anniversary at the 57th Salone Internazionale del Mobile, one of the most highly-anticipated events of the furniture industry, by launching new collections that display the creativity the brand has been known for since its inception. The new collections were exhibited together with the brand’s contemporary classics, following Knoll’s “Modern Always” perspective. A fine sense of style and keen attention to detail were reflected in the overall installation designed by OMA, the design firm co-founded by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The result was a minimalistic display space reminiscent of the late Marcel Breuer’s work in the Whitney Museum of American Art, now known as the MET Breuer.
A selection of armchairs designed by Piero Lissoni made its debut at the 2018 Salon del Mobile, sporting features that balance the traditional with the modern. Each piece is essentially versatile—appropriate for any setting, whether it be one’s home or the workplace. The seating collection has swivel bases covered with cast aluminium and equipped with self-regulating dampers that ensure one’s comfort.
The KN chairs come in two different versions. The KN01 sports balanced proportions, providing comfort in its compactness despite its unusual curved shape. The KN02, on the other hand, is fashioned with a headrest and a reclining mechanism that is conveniently built into the armrest. The collection also comes with the KN03, a footrest designed with a padded cushion.
Another Lissoni creation, the Red Baron is a modular bookshelf that was inspired, in part, by an airplane wing, with parts that become gradually lighter as they taper into an almost invisible metal sheet. It is supported by steel posts for sturdiness and stability, and its shelves are done with an aluminium finish. The bookshelf maintains a clean image with its solid form and structure, creating a balanced aesthetic. One can choose between extra-clear tempered glass or chestnut wood for the bookshelf’s back and sides—with the option to combine them—to better fit a chosen setting. With excessive elements stripped from it, The Red Baron is a bookshelf that serves it purpose while maintaining its contemporary character.
Mark Newson fashioned his Aluminium Chair after an uninterrupted line. His signature style of combining precision engineering with natural forms is evident in how the chair is both hard and soft, and solid and transparent. The design is a modern take on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s cantilevered chairs—especially his Tugendhat Chair—simultaneously honouring it. Three highpressure castings make up the Aluminium Chair (a main frame and two end caps) that connect to make up its frame. The mesh back and seat blend seamlessly into the design, creating a streamlined look. The Newson Aluminium Chair comes in three frame colours and six mesh ones, while its stackable version is offered in armed or armless options.
Knoll honours its design originality by creating a special edition of its Butterfly Chair for its 80th year. New materials are introduced to the classic chair to give customers a better sensory experience. This chair in particular sums up the brand’s three principles: refinement, innovation, and timeless design. Pietro Lissoni once again lends Knoll a hand by updating its Grasshopper Table and Avio Sofa System. Now a hyperextended version of the original, the updated Grasshopper Table has a length of 4.5 metres, and two central legs for extra structural support. Apart from an expanded range of fabrics for the Avio collection, it now also comes in a more compact version, with a seat slightly raised that keeps the comfort the standard Avio provides.
Finally, the Bastiano Sofa Collection better adapts to the contemporary landscape under the watchful eye of its original designer, Tobia Scarpa. A new structure in an iroko wood finish is added to the collection, as well as the choice of Bellagio leather, the latter being available for all collections in the catalogue.