Time to save up your pretty pennies – your favorite Bauhaus classics just got a stunning makeover. Knoll has just launched three ultra-matte finishes – white, black, and an archival dark red – across four of its collections designed by two iconic greats: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer. In these new colorways, the reimagined pieces make a new, bold statement with the same innovative spirit of the Bauhaus era.
Wassily Chair \ Photo: Adam Jason Cohen
Wassily Chair \ Photo: Adam Jason Cohen
These tubular steel collections include the MR Chair and MR Tables by Mies, as well as Breuer’s Wassily Chair, Cesca Chairs and Stools, and Laccio Tables. They were all designed when Mies and Breuer were both at the Bauhaus institute, unaware of their impact on this significant design movement. For the first time ever, these pieces are being commercially produced in these striking new finishes.
MR Side Chair \ Photo: Adam Jason Cohen
MR Armchair \ Photo: Adam Jason Cohen
Each color has a deep connection to the Bauhaus: the dark red is a nod to a hue originally offered on the MR chair, while the white and black shades are classic Bauhaus choices known for their ability to manipulate light and accentuate geometry.
From left to right: MR Side Chair, MR Table, Wassily Chair, Laccio Table – Small, Cesca Chair – Armless, and MR Armchair \ Photo: Adam Jason Cohen
To celebrate this vibrant new chapter, Knoll collaborated with photographer Adam Jason Cohen to showcase the updated pieces in a photoshoot across four Los Angeles locations, each celebrated for their curved architecture. The modern take on Bauhaus design places the iconic pieces in abstract urban settings, reflecting the movements ideals while giving them a contemporary refresh through color.
Jonathan Olivares, Knoll’s SVP of Design, explained the decision to introduce these finishes, saying, “When these pieces were first made by workshops in Germany their frames were painted, giving us a precedent to build on and license to take on the recoloring. Seeing the tubular structures in white, black, and red, the way these colors interact with the seats and backrests, completely changes our perception of the work and allows us to see them with fresh eyes.”
From left to right: MR Armchair, Laccio Table – Large, MR Table, Wassily Chair, and Cesca Chair – Armless
To learn more about the revived collections and to add them to your own personal collection, visit knoll.com.
Photography by Adam Jason Cohen as noted, remainder are courtesy of Knoll.