 |
August 4 - August 11,2002 |
Showcasing Canadian design
Strengths Office furniture manufacturers release new products at recent NeoCon
By Mark Curtis
 |
|
Designer Mark Muller
|
Contract, or office, furniture has been a mainstay of the Canadian design industry for decades and 2002 is proving to be no exception.
The recent NeoCon industry fair in Chicago gave Canadian manufacturers an opportunity to showcase their latest wares. Toronto manufacturer Keilhauer, which has enjoyed unprecedented success in recent years with its best-selling Tom chair by designer Tom Deacon, is now looking to Deacon contemporaries such as Scot Laughton and Patty Johnson to provide them with a designer's edge.
Keilhauer asked Laughton, best known for his Juxta storage system for Toronto homewares manufacturer Umbra, to design a lounge seating series. The Toronto designer responded with four seating lines - Grand, Canal, Fossa and Bridge - which are all available in one, two and three seat configurations. With the Grand series, Laughton says, "I wanted to capture the essence of seating without the traditional construction elements of three cushions, legs and the rest. Instead, I used a large slab back on one plane to give the form a clean feel. This is a classic, updated modern sofa with a taut, tailored look."
Laughton says his design of the Fossa line was inspired by the modern furniture of the mid-20th century. "(Fossa) sports some curves, exposed steel legs, and a few exaggerated lines," says the designer. Laughton has also launched a line of home products, including furniture, under the name Lolah. (The name was inspired in part by the Lola racing car.)
The dual functionality of Patty Johnson's Turn table design for Keilhauer is indicative of current consumer needs but at the same time draws on a traditional design process. The Turn table is an occasional piece which can also double as seating. Johnson's design enables a manufacture based on traditional wood production processes and traditional wood joinery. The table / stool is made of maple, walnut or cherry and available in a colour or natural finish.
Keilhauer also used the Chicago show to feature their new E-1 collection of fabrics. In keeping with manufacturer concerns for environmental responsibility, the Corte and Fila fabric lines are both made of 100 percent post-industrial recycled fibres. The E-1 collection also includes the wool blend Graffio and Giardino, a damask construction of worsted wool which features a small leaf pattern.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
