Product news: architect David Adjaye has unveiled his first furniture collection, designed for American retailer Knoll, which includes two cantilevered side chairs and a limited edition coffee table.
David Adjaye developed the Washington Collection alongside his design for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, which is currently under construction.
"This project has been an exhilarating and collaborative experience – an unexpected balancing act between the design and engineering processes," said Adjaye. "My original idea of what this furniture should be was continuously refined and transformed throughout."
The Washington Collection, which also includes a club chair, ottoman and side table, will be launched by Knoll in October.
The Washington Corona coffee table is made from four cast bronze panels referencing the bronze lattice that wraps around the museum in Washington and will be available in a limited edition of 75 pieces, marking Knoll's 75th anniversary.
The Washington Skeleton and Washington Skin chairs balance on a cantilevered stand and are suitable for outdoor use.
The lattice design of the Skeleton chair is constructed from die-cast aluminium, while the Skin version is made from injection-moulded nylon.
David Adjaye won the design competition for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture museum back in 2009 and construction began in February 2012.
Adjaye recently designed an observatory and education centre with spiralling stone walls to be built on an island in the English Channel, and a silk-weaving facility in India.
At Design Indaba earlier this year, David Adjaye told us about his relationship with Africa and why he believes the continent provides a great opportunity for architects. See more stories about David Adjaye.
Architect Rem Koolhaas also launched a furniture collection with Knoll at the Milan Furniture Fair this year, which journalist Justin McGuirk told Dezeen was the most interesting thing he saw during the event. See more stories about Knoll furniture.
Here are some more details from Knoll:
The Washington Collection for Knoll, David Adjaye's first collection of furniture, transforms his architectural and sculptural vision into accessible objects for the home and office. The collection consists of two cantilevered side chairs, a club chair, an ottoman, a side table and a monumental coffee table.
David Adjaye said, "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."
Commenting on Adjaye’s work, Knoll design director Benjamin Pardo said, "David is doing really innovative and important architectural projects, and what really interested us was to see that work on an entirely new scale."
Adjaye’s limited edition cast bronze coffee table reflects this cross-over. The sculptural table with a clear glass top is constructed from four cast bronze panels, and four connecting plates. The roughhewn exterior contrasts the highly reflective, hand polished interior surface. To mark our 75th anniversary the bronze coffee table is limited to an edition of 75.