konstantin grcic: parrish collection for emeco

the ‘parrish collection’ on show at the 2013 salone del mobileimage © designboom

herzog & de meuron, architects of the new parrish art museum, commissioned konstantin grcic to design the furnishings for the institution (see designboom’s coverage of the completed building here). employing local materials from local manufacturers, grcic’s ‘parrish collection’ of tables, café and lounge chairs – both fixed and mobile pieces – produced by american company emeco, match the recycled aluminium and retrieved timber that is evidenced in the building’s bare construction to reflect the context of the surrounding landscape in which they are being used.

‘developing the mobile interiors for the parrish museum brings us to the peculiar psychology around chairs used in public spaces – exploring the idea of comfort and non-comfort. the best you can give someone in a public space is a chair that really feels like a chair. considering the public self-awareness in a museum seat, the parrish chair was given a round tube, forming a belt that defines the space around you – a space where you can feel protected. the chair is also spacious, achieved using very little material. put together the pine on the aluminum chair looks almost like tractor seat, which has something old fashioned and genuine about it. at the final installation the parrish chairs are strong individuals, yet the collection, I must say, looks even greater in multiplication. a density of tube forms composed in a very nice subtle way, an astonishing view in numbers,‘ says grcic.

update:we have updated our original article from november 12th, 2012 — below see our exclusive designboom coverage including an interview with konstantin grcic about the collection, as well as additional images and information on the furniture which makes its international debut at the 2013 salone del mobile from april 9th – 14th.

designboom interviews konstantin grcic on the development of the ‘parrish’ collection for emeco at the salone del mobile 2013video © designboom

the modular pieces feature three frames–recycled aluminium sandblasted in clear, anodized, red or black powder coated finishes; with four different seat options: reclaimed polypropylene (suitable for outdoor use), locally sourced wood from lancaster, pennsylvania, danish fabric kvadrat or three luxurious leathers from spinneyback. the availability of these options allows for a versatile family of furniture.

the tables which accompany the seating come in two recycled aluminium sandblasted options: a clear anodized aluminum or black powder coated finish, produced in two different heights–as café and side tables–which can be combined with alternative trespa table tops in pastel grey or black.

recycled aluminium sandblasted frame with kvadrat upholstered seatimage © designboom

konstantin grcicportrait © designboom

‘parrish collection’ chair 3/4 side viewimage courtesy emeco

‘parrish collection’ chair side view image courtesy emeco

‘parrish collection’ chair top view image courtesy emeco

‘parrish’ chair and café tableimage courtesy of emeco

‘parrish’ café table in blackimage courtesy of emeco

‘parrish’ side table in blackimage courtesy of emeco

image courtesy of emeco

the chair is constructed from a simple metal frame and wooden seat panimage courtesy of emeco

the use of local materials in the production of the furniture also matches the aluminium and bare timber employed in the museum’s constructionimage courtesy of emeco