Press Releases
Knoll presents the new collections 2021 @ Milano Design Week
Milan, 05 September 2021 – During Milano Design Week, the latest new creations by Knoll make their debut in the Milan showroom, and inside an original installation prepared for the Supersalone, the special event produced by Salone del Mobile from 5 to 10 September.
Knoll presents new developments for 2021 created in collaboration with contemporary designers Piero Lissoni and Barber & Osgerby, along with modern classics by outstanding architects and designers like Florence Knoll, Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia. In keeping with the “Modern Always” philosophy, Knoll has outlined a precise pathway of perfect balance between modernity and tradition, generating innovative ideas that will last in time, in total harmony with the company’s historical legacy.
Knoll continues its creative progress with Piero Lissoni and presents the expansion of the KN Collection, along with the more recent collections inserted in the catalogue and new variations, such as the innovative Matic system of sofa components, and the Gould collection of upholstered furnishings, with all its different interpretations.
From its debut to the present, the KN Collection has grown to form a family of armchairs and seating with a forceful stylistic identity that remains intact. The entire collection stands out for the minimalist language of its curved design, a perfect combination of functional quality and refined looks. The common denominator of the project is the chassis, a smooth, curved shell that makes all the elements recognizable and original, while providing a unique level of comfort. The seven series offer an array of multiple variants, outstanding for their exceptional versatility. The latest entries in the KN Collection, the KN06 armchair and KN07 chair are now available in a new version with a base column, in two finishes: polished aluminium and white or black Rilsan, for fixed or swivel versions. This new solution joins the recent variants with four legs, or with a height-adjustable swivel base with four stars on glides or five stars on casters. The characteristic image of the KN06 is the result of its seashell-like form in fiberglass, coated in the colors glossy white or glossy black, or covered in fabric or leather, which rests delicately on the slender, enveloping structure, in a perfect balance of function and image.
KN07 is a chair without armrests, which stands out for its attractive design that connects the inner and outer surfaces in a single soft, fluid line. Covered in fabric or leather, KN07 is an ideal choice for the home or the office, ready to adapt to the new requirements of living and to take its place in any context.
The KN Collection, thanks to its wide range of solutions, coordinates perfectly with all the collections in the Knoll catalogue. The ample assortment of materials and finishes sets each creation apart, emphasizing the modern spirit of the products while accentuating the nonchalant elegance of the design.
For Milano Design Week, along with the new collections Knoll also presents additional models, measurements and finishes for a number of products already in the catalogue.
As a protagonist in living areas, the Matic collection of sofa components presented in 2020 has been expanded with new modules, conceived to embody a more rigorous idea of comfort, experimenting with new possibilities of expression and use. Envisioned as a platform suspended in space, halfway between island and architecture, Matic stands out for its low, linear seats enhanced by capitonné detailing; the armrests and backs can be adjusted thanks to an internal mechanism, to offer structural support and adaptability.
The cushions complete the collection, guaranteeing moments of absolute relaxation. Aesthetic details of timeless elegance and lightness are combined with precise workmanship at a high level of quality and technology, values that have always been the true earmarks of Knoll.
The Gould Sofa, a family of upholstered furnishings based on the imagery of America in the 1950s and its works of architecture, has also been updated with a new approach that calls for the addition of a new corner unit, for a lifestyle devoted to comfort. The collection focuses on more relaxed, informal seating, marked by a spirit of classic-contemporary taste, with ample proportions thanks to the large cushions. Welcoming due to its greater depth, Gould is perfect for modern décor settings. With its wide range of configurations – including large, extra-large and extra-extra-large sofas – it combines perfectly with all the collections in the Knoll catalogue, offering an extensive selection of materials and finishes.
Knoll adds even greater variety by expanding the Smalto collection of tables designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby with a series of low circular pieces, available in different sizes and heights. Entirely in enamel steel, their design process has been an exercise in purity and simplicity, and the outcome is a collection of tables of exceptional durability, both classical and contemporary in character. With its forceful graphic image, Smalto reinterprets the themes of the great design classics in a contemporary way. The rounded volumes and accommodating forms, together with a support structure that permits stable compositions with an accent on modernity, lend themselves to use in various spaces of the home, responding to a wide range of functional needs. The collection is a perfect blend of stylistic innovation and refined workmanship, including the finish of the metal itself, which relies on high temperatures to achieve a result similar to vitrification. The tubular legs support round tops, transmitting a sense of conceptual but also visual lightness, while conserving the perfect proportions.
Knoll Pavilion @ Supersalone by 2050+
Knoll has assigned the design of the display space at the Supersalone to the architect and curator Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli, founder of the studio 2050+. The project pays homage to the historic Knoll advertising campaigns.
An abstract skyline of New York City, made with striking colors, volumes and three-dimensional surfaces, welcomes modern classics like the famous Barcelona® Chair, the iconic Pedestal Tables, the elegant Platner Side Chair, and the sculptural Diamond Chair, alongside contemporary collections like the KN seating family designed by Piero Lissoni, presented in a range of variations. An evocative installation that metaphorically combines past, present and future.
“The scenography explores and re-elaborates the Suprematists drawings, where simple geometries become a three-dimensional background to embed the Knoll icons as part of the scene. The composition is characterised by a material movement emphasised by the presence of the textiles that define the skyline of an abstract New York, homage to Hebert Matter”, explains Francesca Lantieri from studio 2050+.
"Our space at the Supersalone illustrates the innovative spirit of Knoll’s design through the new creations developed by Piero Lissoni, while at the same time celebrating the past and future of the brand", says Demetrio Apolloni, President of Knoll Europe.
Knoll again confirms its place as a company of exceptional creative vision, which thanks to its corporate philosophy has become famous around the world, through perseverance and constant growth. Founded in 1938 through collaboration with the greatest 20th-century masters of design and architecture, today Knoll continues on its path, working with the most outstanding contemporary talents.
