david adjaye: the washington collection for knoll

david adjaye: the washington collection for knoll
all images courtesy of knoll

david ajaye‘s first foray into furniture transforms his architectural vision into accessible design for the home. ‘the washington collection’ for knoll is consists of two cantilevered side chairs, a club chair, ottoman, side table and coffee table. ‘knoll approaches furniture as making connections between people and how they work and live their daily lives. this project has been an exhilarating and collaborative experience – an unexpected balancing act between the design and engineering processes. my original idea of what this furniture should be was continuously refined and transformed throughout.’ – david adjaye 

‘washington skeleton’ aluminium chair
dimensions: W18″ x D20 ¼” x H32 ½”, seat height: 17 ½”

the ‘washington skeleton’ aluminium side chair offers a visual and structural play on propping and balancing. it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use–available with outdoor powder coat paint or copper plating which will patina over time. the seat and legs are made from die-cast aluminium, connected to one another using a mortise and tenon joint. while the ‘washington skeleton’ is reduced to a delicate geometric lattice,  its solid inverted counterpart, ‘washington skin’ offers a colorful envelope of the same form.

‘washington skeleton’ aluminum chair rear 3/4
dimensions: W18″ x D20 ¼” x H32 ½”, seat height: 17 ½”

‘washington skeleton’ aluminum chair front view

‘washington skin’ nylon side chair 3/4 front view
dimensions: W18″ x D20 ¼” x H32 ½”, seat height: 17 ½”

the ‘washington skin’ nylon side chair is an injection-moulded form, with glass-reinforced nylon. its shell and legs are cast in three parts and are connected using mortise and tenon joinery and stainless steel fasteners. its prop-leg design is reinforced internally with a cast aluminium brace that is over-moulded with nylon. it is available in seven UV-stable colors.

the ‘washington collection’ is available october 2013.

‘washington skin’ nylon side chair 3/4 front view

‘washington corona’ limited edition bronze coffee table
dimensions: W40 ⅞” x D40 ⅞” x H15 ¾”

the ‘washington corona’ limited edition bronze coffee table features a base that is constructed from four sand-cast bronze panels, connected by machined bronze plates and brass hardware. the interiors of these are each CNC-machined and hand-polished to a mirror finish and are topped by a 1/2″ thick optically clear glass with a jewel-polished chamfered edge. the ‘washington corona’ comes in a limited edition of 75, each stamped with an edition number, to celebrate knoll’s 75 year anniversary.

click through the gallery below to see the making of ‘the washington collection’:

the seat of the washington skeleton awaiting assembly

injection moulded nylon shell of washington skin

washington skin chair shells

sketches of the washington skin nylon side chair

casting the bronze panels for the washington corona limited edition bronze coffee table

the molten bronze setting

the sculptural bronze plates awaiting assembly

assembling the four bronze panels with brass hardware

each bronze panel is hand polished

constructing the base of the washington corona limited edition bronze coffee table

full article here