Modern? You'd be surprised

                  Modern?..........  You'd be surprised




          The items on this page are icons of contemporary design, and yet.....they are all from 1929-1960. They have stood the test of time and they are all presently produced, to the exact specifications of the designers. 


        




 .

The Panton S  Chair

   The Panton S Chair..1960


Designed by Verner Panton in 1960, this single-form injection moulded plastic chair has been mass produced since the 1960's and is still widely copied today.

Panton studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenagen, graduating in 1951. From there he went on to work for Arne Jacobsen.
You can find the real thing at Design Within Reach, and this polypropylene, non-fading chair comes in Red, Chartreuse, Black, Ice Grey , Tangerine, and White and it is $260.
http://www.dwr.com

Stacked Pantons in all the available colours.

The Barcelona Chair.....1929

The Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1960) is a classic that is still commonly used in contemporary settings, but it is actually an antique! The chair was designed in 1929 as a seat for the King and Queen of Spain at the German Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Barcelona.

The Barcelona Chair, 1929

It is still made to the architect's specifications out of a single cowhide, and it is supported by cowhide straps, which are dyed to match the chair. Bright hand polished chrome and individual leather buttons complete the simple yet perfect chair. It won a design award  from MOMA in 1977,  48 years after its introduction.
Photo: TD Canada,    Cadillac Fairview

Building the TD Center, Toronto

The famous Cantilever Chairr

Mies van der Rohe was a perfectionist to the enth degree. His buildings were designed down to the last detail, furniture being an integral part of the whole.


The Building of the TD Centre , Toronto, ON
was a triumph for Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
This building is what he referred to
 as "Skin and Bones architecture" and is
 one of many that brought architecture into
 the modern age. This was his last major work
 and you can still admire his Barcelona Chairs
 in the lobby of the bank today.
He stipulated that it was to remain true to his design and it has.

               "Less is More" was coined by Mies van der Rohe


Corbusier's Pony Chaise Lounge LC4....1928
photo:  http://www.cassinausa.com/quick_lounge.html


This incredible

   ,

  Lounge chair is as current today in design as it was when it was first introduced in 1928  as furnishing for a Villa in Ville d'Avray.  This Chaise is hair-on-hide mattress with a leather headrest, and chrome base. Each one is different depending on the hide and it is produce in Italy.  Le Corbusier's proper name was Pierre Jeannere and he designed this lounge as a "Resting Machine"



Noguchi Table....... 1948

photo:  http://www.hermanmiller.com/Products/Noguchi-Table

Noguchi Table 

Isamu Noguchi

Check for this
signature when you are buying a Noguchi Table. There are hundreds of inexpensive imitators out there.  this stamp was added to all pieces in 2003, before that, you take your chances.  You can buy this iconic table by Herman Miller, at Design within Reach for $1399-$1439 depending on your choice of size.


Henning Koppel Design for George Jenson......1952


photo:  http://www.georgjensen.com/global/living/masterpieces/masterpieces-henning-koppel-kande-poleret-stal
This stunningly beautiful and stylistically simple water jug is a copy of Henning Koppel's 1952 design. He was one of the most in demand designers, working for George Jenson. It is reproduced in polished steel and it is part of the Masterpiece series, developed in 2008 to coincide with Koppel's 100th birthday. It will set you back a bit over $400. It is also available in Gold  $910, and Copper $620.  If only we had an original.................



            The Alvar Aalto Three Legged stool......1932
                                                Made in Finland by Artek  $260 US.

Alvar Aalto developed the technique in the early 1930's to bend wood in this unique and practical design. They could easily fit into any room today, and you can cover them with your own material for under $400 or choose from ready made.

 Photos: http://scandinaviandesign.com/Alvar_Aalto/



Alvar Aalto was born Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto in Kuortane, Finland in 1898 . He was an architect who received his degree in 1921 from the Technical University of Helsinki. He was responsible for Artek, along with Marie and Harry Gullichsen and they developed the bent   wood cantilevered chair.


Today Aalto's designs live on and flourish at iitalia.










Contemporary Looks, now over 60 years old.  It is interesting that all of these items were developed by architects  who also dabbled in furniture design. A beautiful building design could be ruined with the wrong choice of furniture and the design of the furniture to fill the buildings was an astute move on the designer's part.