Architect Mies van de Rohe Barcelona Chair 1929, leather & stainless steel
Nothing exists in a vacuum. There is no future without the past. But truth is truth. So much for cliche’s. I would never run out of the endless parade of chairs, I could go on and on and on. How did we get all those differences in the mere chair? The past here is about a school in Germany that changed the future of chairs, architecture and design forever.
The early twentieth century was the beginning of a new era envisioning how we live, work and play. A few who influenced our design decisions from the early centuries to now were the innovative, the thinkers, modern men of the day. We lived through, and in this order, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Palladio, Downing, Gaudi, Mackintosh, Gropius, van de Rohe, Graves and Gehry. Are you bored yet? Plug any of those names into your Google and read about their magic. The magic of change. The magic of changing lives. We love magic. But do we love change?
Bauhaus Signage
The talented architect, Walter Gropius developed the idea of the Bauhaus in Weimar, Germany in 1919, a school to teach design differently, to create change. Finally settling in a new building in Dessau in1926, the Bauhaus is one of the world’s most fascinating schools. It changed how we view and philosophize design. Design in art, furnishings, buildings, even fabric for fashion.
The Barcelona chair, above left, was designed during the Bauhaus era.
I suppose a few weeks might be worthwhile to spend on this history of change of the world. But today, I want to give you some more chair fun.
Take a look at this one. Robert Cohen’s bentwood rocker. This is Robert’s design of a chair made from one single piece of wood. Robert, a modern man who is an innovative thinker, is my architect and friend. He designed a fabulous new studio for me with twelve feet of north light windows. Perfect light, especially for an artist who paints. I paint soft realism. www.gailingis.com
Architect Robert Cohen, AIA, Bentwood Rocker 1986
After he saw last week’s blog with the chair from the book “397 Chairs” he sent me an email. He wrote that a chair he designed was in the book. “Really? It is a small world after all.” I exclaimed. I looked in my book and there it was, #258. So, at a business meeting recently this was the conversation between me and Robert.
Gail: “What inspired you to design this chair?”
Robert: “Well, I actually designed it for a chair competition to be exhibited in “The Chair Fair, Furniture of the 20th Century” at the lntemational Design Center in Long Island City.” While investigating the design idea, I noticed chairs were made with several parts that had to be assembled. I thought it would be interesting to design a chair out of one piece of wood. We used hard maple that could be stained in ebony, cherry, or natural. It also could have been made with Dupont Corian.”
Gail: “Congratulations on your design being chosen for the exhibition. Was the chair ever manufactured?”
Robert: “We made a prototype. And we added an optional loose cushion. But I discovered shipping a chair in one piece would be quite costly and inconvenient. Beyond the prototype, it was not offered for sale, but I still have the rocker.”
Gail: “Thanks Robert. I appreciate your skills and innovative spirit.” www.robertcohenarcitect.com.
Come back next week for more surprises………………
What do you think about changes? In your life what changes have you experienced making a difference in the way you live, work or play? Do you love change? Or only magic?
Gail – that first chair, I swear my employer had that style all over their lobby back 22 years ago when I got hired. They are all gone none, taken away several years ago in a remodel (I’m not sure exactly when since I work at home full time and hardly go to the office).
To answer your question about changes – technology and my employers forward thinking attitude almost 20 years ago allowed me to work from home. I’m practically a WAH pioneer – 18 years and counting. So yes, this was a good change for me and my family (and my writing career – no commute means more time to write!).
Casey, that first chair is worth a small fortune. And yes, you are most likely correct. That first chair was a first of its kind leading the way in the new thinking in the early 20th century. That first chair is still all over corporate lobbies impressing visitors. It is the “Barcelona Chair.” An optional footstool accompanies the chair usually for residential clients.
You are definitely a WAH pioneer. Congratulations on saving time, money and a collection of extra minutes over the 18 years. How blessed you are to have had the opportunity to WAH, raise your family, write and maybe even play on occasion. Those few minutes add up, don’t they?
Tom started working at home the beginning of this year. It was made official in June when his company decided they did not need their upscale corporate offices in Stamford and sent all their employees home to work. The 20 mile commute was, well you know, not palatable. We both enjoy his working at home. We work together in my new studio, half is office the half is for my painting work.
Gail, these posts are so interesting! I learn something new everytime I come here. I kind of love that bentwood rocker — With some cushions I’ll bet it’s comfortable, and the shape of it is quite beautiful.
Hello Susannah (Jane). Did I get it right this time? I am pleased that you enjoy the posts. I love putting them together. The rocker has wonderful lines, very appealing. I must ask Robert if I can sit in it so I can test it out. Thanks!
Those chairs look very uncomfortable. I would have to sit in them to decide if I would want one. Don’t get me wrong, I like them …. just don’t know if I would want one. As for change l…. I don’t like it, but have been told it is a good thing. I often wonder why it is when things are moving along smoothly, something changes!
I have tried out the Barcelona chair and found it difficult to get out of. The seat is deep especially for a small person who’s feet will dangle. I have not tried the Rocker, but perhaps I will have the opportunity b/c Robert, my architect, has it at his house here locally.
Change is good, keeps me hopping.
Thanks Gerri.
Thanks Victoria. Maybe you could convince him and rep him. I agree, the chair is fab. I mean, Frank Gehry started that way you know. I was working in Bloomies design department, Gehry came in and demonstrated the strength of his cardboard chair by jumping up and down on it.
What a fabulous chair Robert did! I think we need to talk him into resurecting it. So much furniture is shipped these days; it’s probably cheaper than it was back then. And there are newer, lighter weight materials to be tried as well. Thanks for writing about it!
Victoria