Over Eight Decades of Shaping How the World Lives and Works
There are brands that don’t just make furniture—they define an era. Knoll is one of them. Founded in 1938, Knoll created a design language where function meets art, where architecture and interior merge seamlessly. With visionaries Hans and Florence Knoll at the helm, the brand carried forward the Bauhaus and Cranbrook spirit to establish a lasting philosophy: “Modern Always.”
A legacy spanning over 80 years – From Bauhaus to today
Hans & Florence Knoll
Knoll's success is built on two pillars: Hans Knoll: The founder with a commercial vision, bringing the Bauhaus spirit from Europe to America. Florence Knoll went further by founding the Knoll Planning Unit, laying the foundation for the concept of the "modern office": a comprehensive space where furniture, lighting, and architecture connect in a harmonious layout. This is how Knoll moved beyond making furniture to shaping entire ways of living.
Eero Saarinen
Marcel Breuer
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Harry Bertoia
Knoll also collaborated with some of the greatest designers of the 20th century: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Harry Bertoia, Marcel Breuer. Together, they created timeless pieces such as the Barcelona Chair, Tulip Chair, Diamond Chair, Wassily Chair, and Womb Chair. Each is more than an object—it is a landmark in design history.
Designs That Stand the Test of Time
Knoll transforms the works of geniuses into timeless icons – "living icons."
Barcelona Chair – The Throne of Modernity
Designed by Mies van der Rohe & Lilly Reich, 1929
A chair with regal presence: a stainless steel frame bent like a ribbon, paired with soft, tufted leather cushions. Elegant in its restraint, the Barcelona Chair embodies “Less is More”—reduced to its purest form, yet powerful and timeless.
Tulip Chair – Purity in Curves
Designed by Eero Saarinen - 1957
Saarinen once said he wanted to "eliminate the clutter of chair legs." And so the Tulip Chair was born: a chair rising from a single stem, as graceful as a blooming tulip. The smooth fiberglass seat cradles the body, both futuristic and pure. This is proof that minimalism is not just about subtraction, but about distilling the essence – pure elegance encapsulated in a single curve.
Diamond Chair – Where sculpture meets functionality
Designed by Harry Bertoia - 1952
The Diamond Chair is not like a chair – it is like a work of art suspended in space. From welded steel wires forming a mesh, Bertoia wove a structure that is as light as air yet as sturdy as metal. He once said: "Space passes through them." Indeed, sitting in the Diamond Chair, one feels immersed in the very void where sculpture and functionality meet in a moment of poetic grace.
Wassily Chair – The Bauhaus Manifesto
Designed by Marcel Breuer - 1925
The story begins with... a bicycle. Breuer drew inspiration from the bicycle frame to create the world's first steel tube chair – a revolution of the industrial age. With its taut leather straps, the Wassily Chair is both powerful and simple, embodying the Bauhaus spirit: form follows function, materials are celebrated, and design becomes the language of progress. It is not just a chair, but a pioneering manifesto.
Womb Chair – Florence's Embrace
Designed by Eero Saarinen - 1948
Florence Knoll once desired a chair that offered the feeling of being "cradled in a basket full of pillows." Saarinen made this vision a reality with the Womb Chair. The curved back hugs the body, the soft cushioning beckons, and the chair becomes a peaceful refuge amid the hustle and bustle of life. It is not just a place to sit – it is a moment of return, a place for the body to rest and the soul to be caressed.
Florence Knoll Sofa – The Standard of Balance
Designed by Florence Knoll - 1954
Florence Knoll called her designs"meat and potatoes"– simple, essential, but absolutely not ordinary. Her signature sofa is a prime example: clean lines, perfect proportions, and a slender steel frame all come together to create timeless elegance. The Florence Knoll Sofa doesn't seek the spotlight, but it is precisely this restraint that makes it a foundation, allowing the entire space to shine in perfect balance.
From offices to homes – Knoll continues to move forward
Today, Knoll continues to assert its position in both fields: home furnishings and office furniture. Its consistent design philosophy—modern, streamlined, and humanistic—keeps Knoll in step with contemporary life. Whether it's a cozy apartment, an open creative space, or a global corporate headquarters, Knoll remains a symbol of standardization and flexibility.
Knoll today – and tomorrow
From 21st-century open offices to elegant urban apartments, Knoll continues to push the boundaries of beauty. A spirit of sustainability, respect for the environment, and modern architectural heritage is woven into every detail.
Knoll doesn't follow trends. Knoll creates them.
Not in the moment. Knoll is the flow.
Every product, every project reflects the belief: modern design has no boundaries; it is the shared heritage of humanity.
