Knoll’s furniture collection spans a century of modern design, featuring works by Breuer, Saarinen, Bertoia, and Mies van der Rohe. Many of these iconic pieces remain in production today, blending seamlessly with newer additions. This catalog covers most of the important names in 20th-century furniture, with designers who defined modern furniture and whose best-known pieces continue to be manufactured, ensuring the collection remains dynamic and relevant.
A Legacy Rooted in Architecture
Florence Knoll, who studied under Mies and worked with Gropius and Breuer, established the Knoll Planning Unit in 1946. This initiative reflected her belief in furniture as an integral part of spatial design, not just an afterthought. Her architectural background, including her time at Cranbrook alongside Eero Saarinen and Harry Bertoia, shaped her vision of furniture as a component of space rather than an add-on. By designing whole interiors, she ensured that each piece contributed to a cohesive environment.
Living Edge in Australia showcases the full range, from 1920s classics to recent releases. The collection’s enduring relevance lies in its continuous evolution, with new pieces complementing older designs without needing explanation. This seamless integration highlights Knoll’s commitment to treating furniture as architecture, a philosophy that has guided the brand for decades.
Iconic Pieces That Define Modern Living
The Wassily Chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925, remains a symbol of structural purity. Inspired by his bicycle’s tubular steel frame, he stripped the traditional armchair to its essentials, creating a design that still feels contemporary. Breuer’s Bauhaus background and innovative use of materials set a new standard for modern furniture, emphasizing form and function.
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Florence Knoll commissioned the 1966 Collection from Richard Schultz to address the need for durable outdoor furniture. Made from cast aluminum and woven mesh, it set the standard for modern outdoor design, remaining functional and stylish decades later. She specifically wanted pieces that could withstand Florida’s harsh climate without sacrificing elegance, and Schultz’s designs continue to define outdoor furniture today.
The Perron Pillo Sofa, introduced in 2023 by Willo Perron, reflects today’s versatile living spaces. Its modular, oversized cushions cater to lounging, working, and dining, echoing Florence’s earlier request for the Womb Chair—a piece that prioritized comfort and adaptability. In 1948, Florence asked Eero Saarinen for a chair like a basket full of pillows she could curl up in, and the Womb Chair was born. Perron’s sofa, with its stack-like cushions, updates this idea for contemporary lifestyles, blending proportion and comfort in a way that complements older designs.
A Collection That Lives On
Knoll’s approach ensures its classics are not relics but active participants in contemporary design. At Living Edge, these pieces share space with new releases, demonstrating how design history remains relevant when it continues to serve its purpose. The collection’s ability to evolve while staying true to its architectural roots is what makes it more than a history lesson—it’s a living, breathing sign of modern design.
