Knoll Frank Gehry - Off Side Ottoman
Neither party knew what lay ahead when Frank Gehry came to Knoll in 1989 with an idea for a new generation of bentwood furniture inspired by the simple bushel basket. Despite the uncertainty, a studio was set up and, fueled by mutual optimism, the investigation began.
"Everything I’ve always done has been a reaction against the usual expectations of the furniture market. I wanted the chair to come out of my own work, the shapes of my buildings… What the Knoll people first said to me was, ‘It probably won’t work, but maybe it will. You’ve been thinking about it. Something will come of it.’ All bentwood furniture until now has relied on a thick and heavy main structure and then an intermediary structure for the seating. The difference in my chairs is that structure and the seat are formed of the same incredibly lightweight slender wood strips, which serve both functions. What makes this all work and gives it extraordinary strength is the interwoven, basket-like character of the design… It really is possible to make bentwood furniture pliable, and springy and light."
After three years of experimentation and exploration, the collection was debuted in the Frank Gehry: New Furniture Prototypes show at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Inspired by the surprising strength of the apple crates he played on as a child, Frank Gehry created his thoroughly original collection of bentwood furniture. The ribbon-like designs transcend the conventions of style by exploring, as the great modernists did, the essential challenge of deriving form from function.
MEASUREMENTS:
- Width: 59.7 cm / 23.5 inch
- Depth: 59.7 cm / 23.5 inch
- Height: 20.8 - 35.5 cm / 8.2 - 14 inch
MATERIALS:
- Frame in 2" wide hard white maple veneers laminated to 6 to 9-ply thickness with high bonding urea glue.
- Ottoman has one pair of legs that can be locked in upright position to create a slanted leg and foot rest, or can be folded underneath for low foot rest or floor cushion
- Thermo-set assembly glue provides structural rigidity without the need for metal connectors
- Cushions in 3/4" thick high resiliency foam
- Glides in clear plastic with matte frost finish
HELPFUL NOTES:
- Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified®
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Frank Gehry
Canada, 1929
Born in Canada, Gehry is a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 1954, he graduated from the University of Southern California and began working full time with Victor Gruen Associates, where he had been apprenticing part-time while still in school. He was admitted to Harvard Graduate School of Design to study urban planning. When he returned to Los Angeles, he rejoined Gruen where he stayed until 1960. After a brief sojourn to Paris, Gehry returned to LA and set up his own firm.
Gehry’s early work used unfinished qualities as a part of the design, incorporating chain link and other common building materials. Gehry’s architecture was known for its reliance on harsh, unfinished materials and its juxtaposition of simple, almost primal, geometric forms. In 1972 he introduced a series of corrugated cardboard furniture under the name Easy Edges. The Easy Edges, and particularly the Wiggle Chair, were extraordinarily sturdy and due to their surface quality, had a noise-reducing effect in a room.
The Easy Edges were a great success and brought Gehry overnight fame as a furniture designer. Gehry created his bentwood furniture collection for Knoll in 1992. Inspired by the surprising strength of a wooden bushel basket, he sought to fully integrate material and design to create a structurally and aesthetically light masterpiece. He has won numerous international awards and prizes, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize for his significant contributions to architecture and the built environment.
Boasting an extensive portfolio of products ranging from office work systems and residential mid-century modern classics, to textiles and accessories, Knoll is a leader of modern and sustainable design. Iconic designs from classic designers such as Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, Warren Platner, Isamu Noguchi and Florence Knoll herself make up a large component of Knoll's collection, along with innovative contemporary pieces. Knoll's products can be found in private residences and major art museums alike, including 40 products in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Founded in 1938, Knoll's reputation for design integrity has a long and decorated history under the guiding principle: "good design is good business." Knoll invests in extensive research, field studies, customer collaborations, and partners with experts from the fields of architecture, organizational behavior, technology and business management to ensure that its products adapt and respond to the evolving needs of their customers. Environmental needs and requirements are not overlooked by the design house either. In fact, Knoll is also considered a leader in production practices that reduce waste, conserve natural resources and protect the biosphere.
Knoll has a strong international presence in the design world - headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA with showrooms across North America, Europe and represented by dealers throughout Latin America and Asia.
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