knoll.comImage source: Warren Platner
© The respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Designer
Warren Platner
Warren Platner (1919–2006) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated in architecture from Cornell University in 1941. He worked with Raymond Loewy, Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei before opening his own architecture and interior practice.
Biography
Background
Warren Platner (1919–2006) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated in architecture from Cornell University in 1941. He worked with Raymond Loewy, Eero Saarinen and I. M. Pei before opening his own architecture and interior practice.
Signature Style
Platner sought a furniture that was neither aggressively technological nor aggressively handicraft: the decorative, gentle, graceful quality of period styles such as Louis XV, but on a rational structure rather than applied decoration – support and object made 'all one thing'.
Notable Works
- Platner Collection for Knoll (1966): Lounge Chair, Easy Chair, Arm Chair, Ottoman, Stool and Dining, Coffee and Side Tables
- An executive private-office collection for Knoll
- Interiors of the Georg Jensen Design Center and Windows on the World (World Trade Center, 1976), New York
Legacy
Platner personally developed the production technique for his wire furniture – each chair needs over a thousand welds and more than a hundred steel rods. The collection earned him worldwide renown and, as Knoll notes, remains an icon of modern furniture; an 18K gold finish marked its 50th anniversary.
Collections
Products
Platner Ottoman
Platner's round upholstered ottoman on a base of steel wire rods, 1966
Platner Side Table
Platner's small round side table on a pedestal of steel wire rods, 1966
Platner Easy Chair
Platner's high-backed 1966 lounge chair with an upholstered shell on a rod base
Platner Coffee Table
Platner's low round coffee table on a pedestal of steel wire rods, 1966
Platner Arm Chair
Platner's 1966 dining chair with arms: a fiberglass shell on a base of welded steel rods
Platner Dining Table
Platner's round 1966 dining table on a pedestal of welded steel rods
Platner Lounge Chair
Warren Platner's 1966 lounge chair: an upholstered shell on a base of welded steel rods
Platner Stool
Platner's round stool on a base of steel rods, 15.25 in across and 22.75 in high
