Interiors blog: What’s so special about the Platner Collection?
The Knoll Platner Collection - Credit: Archant
In a roster of enduring designs, one of architect, furniture designer and interior stylist, Warren Platner’s most lasting legacies is the Platner Collection, which he designed for furniture company Knoll in 1966.
The functional design has remained in style ever since.
The elegant chairs, tables and stools are constructed with a unique structural intricacy; the base form consists of hundreds of polished nickel or bronze steel rods.
Platner’s design harks back to an era of “decorative, gentle, graceful design,” while avoiding applied aesthetic. Seeking instead in his own words to “make the structure so the ornamental details are built into it as functional elements.”
The collection speaks integrity, innovation and attention to detail, and has remained in continuous production by Knoll since its inception.
It’s no surprise that the collection has remained so popular through the years, as Platner was a master of the field.
Having achieved a degree in architecture from Cornell in 1941, Platner went on to receive the Rome Prize in 1955 (Awarded for excellence in architecture and design).
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After working in the offices of the Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche, Platner started his own firm in 1965.
Platner also took on the interior design of some significant projects and was responsible for the Windows of the World restaurant at the former World Trade Center and the New York showroom for Georg Jensen. Much like his furniture, Platner’s designs are a true representation of their time.
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Why do I love the Platner Collection?
1. It defines statement furniture, combining appropriate use of material with intuitive structural design
2. The multitude of customisable options allows for total freedom when integrating this design into your living space
3. The era-influenced design has stood the test of time, maintaining its style, offering a distinctive interior solution to any space
The collection is available at my studio. Prices start from £2,000 for a dining chair.
