Object Lesson
A visit to the Architects & Designers building reveals a treasure trove of design by some of the most iconic practitioners of the art.
Edward Fields x George Nakashima
In 1959, renowned architect, woodworker, and designer George Nakashima created two carpet designs for Edward Fields. The project was eventually shelved and the designs were never produced. In 2013, the brand revisited the designs with Nakashima’s children, Mira and Kevin. Mira then discovered a cache of pencil drawings in a folder simply labeled “rugs,” and the project took a dramatic turn. The folder contained numerous sketches of rug ideas that her father had envisioned but had not created. As with all of his designs, nature is the prevailing theme, and these large scale abstractions—made from hand-tufted wool, silk, flax, and sisal—elicit pastoral landscapes, night skies, and bursts of life. The Nakashima edition celebrates two titans of design: a storied brand, and a revered pillar of American design history. Shown here, Migration I and Nakashima’s original sketch for the rug.
Holly Hunt x Vladimir Kagan
Vladimir Kagan was a prolific designer even into his 80s, and his most recognizable design is the oft-imitated Serpentine sofa, which has become an icon of midcentury design. Today, Vladimir Kagan Design Group and Holly Hunt continue to evolve the collection. Chris Eitel, director of Design and Production for Vladimir Kagan Design Group, introduced the Forward Collection in 2022, which includes the Big Picture Sofa, the latest iteration of the maestro’s legendary design. At right, one of Kagan’s original sketches.
Vola x Arne Jacobsen
In 1969, Danish architect Arne Jacobsen—having just won a design competition for Denmark’s new national bank building—was approached by I.P.Lunds Eftf. (now Vola), to create a mixer tap where all the pipes are hidden inside the wall and only the grips and spout are exposed. The architect’s designs had evolved from the free curves associated with his work in the 1950s to more elementary basic shapes. The Vola series is based on the cylinder and circle, and overnight made design history. Today the faucet comes in many configurations and in a bright and exuberant color palette. Through Hastings Bath Collection.
B&B Italia x Gaetano Pesce
Italian architect Gaetano Pesce’s work is housed in the design collections of the world’s greatest museums, including MoMA and The Met in New York, the V&A in London, and the Vitra Museum in Germany, among many others. In his storied career, he blurred the lines between art, design, and industry, believing that all of those pursuits are simply the creative response to the times in which we live. His Up series (1969) is composed of seven voluptuous seats, including the Up5_6 armchair, which is meant to convey a political message denouncing the condition of women in the world. B&B Italia continues to produce the series, in various colors and patterns, for today’s design aficionados.
Fantini x Piero Lissoni
Architect, art director, and designer Piero Lissoni is recognized as one of the masters of contemporary design. He has worked with some of the world’s most storied brands, and has developed architecture, landscape, and interior projects all over the world. In addition to the Aboutwater Boffi Fantini AL/23 collection, Lissoni also designed the brand’s headquarters in Pella, Italy.
Drummonds x Marc Newson
Award-winning industrial designer Marc Newson long admired Drummonds’s artisanal approach and classic English style, so a collaboration was a natural next step. Newson created the Coln collection, featuring a suite of products that includes this sleek-yet-substantial bath, as well as shower controls and a range of taps and mixers. The collection is imbued with Newson’s signature, contemporary ethos, yet it merges seamlessly with the brand’s distinctive, historic style.
Smeg x Dolce & Gabbana
Storied fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana translated the love of their Italian heritage into a series of wildlydecorated appliances for Smeg, whose own design icon—the Fab refrigerator—is transformed into a work of art. The team has now collaborated on three collections: Sicily is My Love, Divina Cucina, and now Blu Mediterraneo (shown here).
Florense x Helio Ascari
Helio Ascari, designer, maker, and CEO of Ascari Bicycles, has been captivated by vintage objects and handcrafted work since he was a child. His grandfather was a craftsman who made woven baskets, and as a young man, Helio worked in furniture and steel factories. His passion for detail allows him to transform ordinary objects into unique, practical works of art. His partnership with Brazilian brand Florense has produced a collection of furniture that has quickly become a modern classic. The Tray Coffee Table, shown here, includes the five-piece collection’s signature leather- wrapped legs and exotic woods.