Josef Hoffmann

Josef Hoffmann was an Austrian Architect and also a designer. "Hoffmann's style by time became more serious and abstract and it was limited in relation to functional structures and domestic products." (August Sarnitz (Taschen), Hoffmann) Work that relates to furniture and domestic use, is still produced in the present day.







A product of his is the Kubus Armchair designed in 1910. Here we can see easily that the designer, Hoffmann is more likely to use geometric shapes in his products. Here the Kubus is like a cube cut in a cuboid. All surfaces and edges are cut the same level and measures. It rests on four square metal legs and covered with leather. Even the texture of the Armchair is geometric.In my opinion this looks quite comfortable but it is a bit bulky for a furniture, one need a big room to fit this and to connect it with its surroundings.

Kubus Armchair

Another product is the Club Armchair it is similar to the Kubus. He still follows the theme of geometric and have the same shape of the Kubus. The only difference is that the top part is rounded and the texture is in linear, sort of a tubular of foam, forming curves. I would prefer the Club over the Kubus although this is also bulky the rounded top makes it more elegant.

Club Armchair

Reference:

August Sarnitz (Taschen), Hoffmann

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1905 he produced his first designs for skyscrapers made out of steel and glass. Although he worked on architecture he changed to product design mostly furniture, in the 1920s with the Cantilever chair. The idea of using tubular steel inspired him from Marcel Breuer from his famous product the Wassily chair. He used the same techniques of Breuer in a lot of his furniture, whether it is tubular or flat steel, he produced a lot of products this way. In my opinion shiny stainless steel makes the products stands out more. Although Mies Van Der Rohe is usually associated with the Bauhaus, he had already developed his own style before entering the school. He was also know during the stay of his school period, one of the grand masters of the International Style. One need to be very good for a student before entering and during this stay knew his style and his pathway.

One of his products that is amazing is the MR 10 Armchair made in 1927. This chair is very similar to the Wassily Chair by Breuer he also followed him and made the chair in tubular steel all over in two pieces. One that hold the back and the legs and the other steel tube that is used for the arms. It is well designed. The two tubes are not welded together they are connected with a piece of metal joint. Then it is covered in leather back and seat and it is connected by a lace in the bottom making it loose for washable or change by wear and tear. In my opinion it has a great source of structure and well finished.

Mr 10 Armchair

A similar chair is the Brno cantilevered armchair it is made mainly by steel but this time instead of tubular is flat all over and welded carefully and neatly. It has that similar flowing structure the same of Wassily and the MR 10. This time he use wooden structure for the seat and back in one go and not separated from each other. This time he used foam and for better comfort. I would prefer this chair then the other it even looks more cleaner and a better proportional.

Brno Cantilevered Armchair

Reference:

Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design

Pierre Paulin

Pierre Paulin, a product designer that most of his influences came from animals and plant forms, even the names of the furniture is also related to their form. Paulin had great success with this ' organic style' most of his work is soft, curved lines and comfort. His favourite materials were leather and foam. "Paulin designed the first few chairs for Thonet and got inspired by Arne Jacobsen's sculpture furniture." (Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design).

A chair that got my attention is this bright orange chair named, the Orange Slice Armchair made in 1960. This chair from the first look you see that freshness look and you just want to sit and feel clean. It also got that feeling of playfulness to the composition. From different angles, the Orange Slice shows several stages of Curl up, in fact every time you look at it, it seems to change shapes. This chair is raised by tubular steel the same way of Marcel Breuer did. The top is covered in foam for comfort. The user can sit relax and enjoy, the only thing i would change is the colour, really it is referring to the orange fruit but for me it is too bright and it can get dirty immediately.

Orange Slice Armchair

Pierre Paulin said, "A chair should be more than simply functional. It should be friendly, fun and colourful."(Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design)

Little Tulip Armchair

Another chair which is similar to the Orange Slice is the Little Tulip Armchair. It is basically the same materials and shape but this time the shape of a tulip, the top part is covered in foam and coloured the same colours of the tulips. The lower part is made of a single leg with a round base for balance. The seat and armchairs are not attached with the back. The back is a single form attached to the single steel tube. This chair is best for a lounge or a bar. In my view these chairs will blend with a lot of interiors whether near beaches, bars, clubs, dining places their aesthetic  view is very amazing.

Reference:

Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design

PIERRE PAULIN (Year N/A) Pierre Paulin [Online], Available from: http://pierrepaulin.com [Accessed: 27th January]

Jean Prouvé

Jean Prouvé is a product designer that always had his hands on work, he was always up to something new so he always was experimenting with new materials and functionality. His motivation was that he will keep experimenting till the object came perfectly done. By the age of twenty he got interested in Modernism. He discovered the material he had been searching was the thin sheet steel. From this discovery he produced a lot of products such  as chairs, school furniture, desks and beds. His material used and technical is sort of what Marcel Breuer use to do with the tubular steel.

In almost all of Prouvé designs are made out of metal and the main part has to be a thin sheet of metal and this product, the Trapèze table has them as the legs. Its name refers to the distinctive shape of the table's paired legs. Together with the thick, obliquely canted edges of the tabletop, they give visual emphasis to the construction's stability. This table can be used as a dining table also for conference or  work table. The legs and the top are made out of black lacquered sheet steel. This table is quite amazing and the form of the legs are the main attention, it shows stability and strength. In my opinion on the whole it is a great product but  would change the top and transform it into a unique shape or else give it depth same as the legs.

Trapèze Table

Another product that matches the Trapèze table is the Standard chair made in 1950. These two furniture goes together because of their material and form, the only thing I would change the colours to match. The back legs were designed differently from the front showing balance and durability. The Standard chair works equally well in domestic settings or as public seating. This chair is made out of tubular and sheet steel. The seat and the back are made in natural oak. In my opinion for a coffee shop is the best seat so people sit and after a while they would want to get up as how I can imagine it. On the other hand for a work space it is best with a cushioned back and seat for comfort and health to the user.

Standard Chair

Reference:

Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design

Hans J. Wegner

"Hans j. Wegner had an important principle that he wanted to speak up is that a piece of furniture should still be interesting even when viewed from the back."(Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design). That is a very good point where the user need to go around the product and admire it from every angle, every product has a side, back, top and bottom so in every way it has to make the user love it.Another principle of Wagner was to reduce old chairs to their basic framework, which he then used in his experiments. Wegner used a lot of different material whether they are man made or natural such as steel, wood, leather. He was also known as a master carpenter where he produced finished joints and exquisite forms. He also gave minimalism an organic and natural softness. He is considered as the master chair-maker and he designer more than 500 chairs during his career.


Wegner has plenty of designs and one of them is the Three-legged shell chair made in 1963, Wegner never gave names to his designs. Wegner as a carpenter always preferred to work with solid wood, but occasionally he explored the use of bend plywood. The way of how the curves are made it has the feeling of lightness due to it is like a plane's wing. As for the legs although it has three it is quite stable. The material used is a form pressed walnut veneer with lacquer finish also moulded cold foam seat and back, in leather, cowhide or wool-blend fabric.This piece look comfortable and elegant from all sides. The curves brings out the beauty of this chair.

Three- Legged Shell Chair

Another chair that looks quite amazing is the Ox Armchair, made in 1958. The shape of this chair is not something you see everyday, as for the sea and the arms are very elegant but when it comes to the head rest it has a bulky cylinder full of foam, I am not saying its not comfortable it is just too big for that chair. I would still make the headrest the same way but only the length of the chair. This whole seat is covered up with oxhide or fabric and raised up from the floor by light but strong legs in steel. This was one of his most comfortable chair at that time it was also Wegner favourite chair to sit on.

Ox Aarmchair

Reference:

Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design

Tom Dixon

Tom Dixon studied as a sculptor and reflected on his free choice of forms. Dixon had an element based on recycling, he got several awards on his products, some on lighting, furniture and accessories. He kept on growing by the time and the products he was producing he became an industrial designer. In 2002 he came up with his own company " Tom Dixon".

One of his products that interested me is the Bird Chaise lounge, produced in 1992. It was named that way for the look something like a bird flying with his wings wide open or with its tail in the air. The "Tail" is where the user can balance himself or simply bend front and back. This was made with an upholstered wooden structure with a removable external cover. The base of the chaise is bended a bit so one can bend or be comfortable just by sitting on it. In my opinion it is a master piece for a rocking chair, for what it is simple and clear in both form and colour. Most people would take it as for a piece of furniture and not notice it is a rocking chair. As for the flexibility of the back I do not know how comfortable it is but as I can see there is not much space to move and with every move it will rock on nothing. Dixon said "it is mostly likely for children to sit and rock on." Reference for the quote, (Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design).

Bird Chaise Lounge






Another product that Dixon have is the Serpentine sofa made in 2003. This sofa is mainly made for household or in a waiting room. The name is serpentine for the curve of it, is similar to what a snake does. This name is mainly the same purpose as the Bird Chaise lounge. This sofa can be used for a variety of situations. It can rest in a corner, be a central element in a room or used for outdoors. The structure is made out of wooden frame covered with multi density, polyurethane foam. The legs are made out of steel in a form of a blade which makes it look more elegant. As for a sofa in a waiting room has a great design but in my opinion for a house like in the living room it is not well used for communicating with each other but on the other hand it is good for different sides, where one can stay watch some television, another person reading on one side and on the L-shape piece users can communicate. It can be used for multi function. I only recommend it for public spaces for its unique shape.

                                                                            Serpentine Sofa 

Reference:

:Bernard Polster, Claudia Neumann, Markus Schuler  and Fredrick Leven, 2004. The AZ of Modern design

:Tom Dixon products, (Year N/A) Connox, [Online] Available from: http://www.connox.com/designers/tom-dixon.htm [Accessed 27th January 2014]