Know Your Chairs: The Wiggle Chair by Frank Gehry

Legendary star-chitect Frank Gehry has designed lots of other things besides world-famous buildings (The Guggenheim Museum in Spain, The Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, The Dancing House in Prague, and The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle).

He has designed stage sets for dance concerts and operas, household items, and six different jewelry collections for Tiffany & Co. But it's his furniture designs that we are naturally interested in for today's installation of Know Your Chairs. And his Wiggle chair, made from corrugated cardboard has stood the test of time.

Architectural Digest reports the origins of this iconic piece of furniture:
When a group of artists and scientists from NASA called a meeting at artist Robert Irwin’s studio in 1969, they asked architect Frank Gehry to give the place a quick makeover. Given the shoestring budget, Gehry came up with something simple yet subtly futuristic: seating made from stacks of cardboard, a humble material he kept around for making models.

“I discovered that by alternating the direction of layers of corrugations, the finished board had enough strength to support a small car, and a uniform, velvety texture on all four sides,” he told The Christian Science Monitor in 1972. “I found I could cut these edgeboard sections into geometrical forms, or bend them into sculptural, ribbon-candy folds.”

Gehry was worried the popularity of his furniture might overshadow his architecture so in 1973, he stopped production. Thankfully, he ceded the rights to Vitra where the chair is now made. Its modern, sculptural shape sets off traditional interiors or blends with modern, minimalist interiors.

The Wiggle chair and ottoman may be bought from Vitra, here.

Happy designing!

For Fun and Comfort: The Grown-Up Fort

Hello to all my regular readers and clients past and present (and future!). This is a strange, uncertain, frightening time for the world and we are all feeling a bit worn down from the grim information and statistics we are hearing about the COVID-19 virus. Almost all of my current clients' jobs have been postponed and the few that are moving ahead are at a phase where we can work via email and video chat. I am definitely sheltering-in-place. But the anxiety from our completely unknown future as well as the loss of life we are seeing around us should give us pause to be tender with ourselves and those around us.

While we are all at home (and if you are not staying in place, I urge you to do so not only for your safety but the safety of many others as well), I know we could stand a bit of levity and playfulness. And these blanket forts and play tents for grown-ups take us back to simpler childhood ideas. Making one is fun, and sitting inside with a movie, a book, some fun food, and maybe your loved one and pet can bring some delight. If you make one, I hope it brings you some fun, some relief from worry, and a sense of comfort.

I am still open for business, so if you are thinking of--or planning--some work or furnishings for your home, there is a lot we can do remotely. Feel free to contact me.

Happy designing and I am wishing health and safety to everyone. I will see you all very soon!