Hans Knoll
Encyclopedia
Hans G. Knoll was a German American
who, together with his wife, Florence Knoll
, founded Knoll
, the well known design company and furniture manufacturer.
in 1914. His father was a modern furniture
manufacturer. In 1938, he moved to New York City
to found a furniture manufacturing company of his own. In 1941, he paired with furniture designer Jens Risom
to launch the Hans Knoll Furniture Company. (Risom designed 15 of the 20 pieces of furniture in the Hans Knoll Furniture Company's "600" line, which began production in 1941.)
In 1943, Knoll was approached by Florence Schust
, an architect
who had studied under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
and Eliel Saarinen
. Schust convinced Knoll that she could help bring in business to his company even in America's wartime economy by expanding into interior design
by working with architects. With her architectural background and design flair, she succeeded. Hans Knoll fell in love with Florence Schust and in 1946, they were married. At that time, they changed the name of the Hans Knoll Furniture Company to Knoll Associates.
The Knolls determined that, although they were focused on modern design
, they would also abide by the values of the Bauhaus
: design excellence, technological innovation and mass production
. They took the at the time innovative idea of paying royalties
to their designers based on how well the designer's furniture sold. In this way, they were able to attract the design services of Harry Bertoia
and Eliel Saarinen
. Knoll Associates also acquired the rights to the Barcelona chair
designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
.
In 1945, Knoll launched its Knoll Planning Unit, under Florence's direction. She also launched a textiles division in 1947.
Hans Knoll moved the firm's headquarters to Pennsylvania
in 1950, believing that he would be able to find talented craftsmen among the region's large German population.
He died in a car crash with a runaway truck in 1955 at the age of 41. Hans Knoll was survived by his widow Florence who became president of their company and his 2 children from an earlier marriage Peter Knoll and Maria (Maja) Knoll.
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
who, together with his wife, Florence Knoll
Florence Knoll
Florence Knoll Bassett is an American architect and furniture designer who studied under Mies van der Rohe and Eliel Saarinen. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan as Florence Schust and is known in familiar circles simply as "Shu"...
, founded Knoll
Knoll (company)
Knoll is a design firm that produces office systems, seating, files and storage, tables and desks, textiles , and accessories for office and for the home. The company also manufactures furniture for the home by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Harry Bertoia, Florence Knoll , Frank Gehry, Maya Lin and...
, the well known design company and furniture manufacturer.
Biography
Hans Knoll was born in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1914. His father was a modern furniture
Modern furniture
Modern furniture refers to furniture produced from the late 19th century through the present that is influenced by modernism. It was a tremendous departure from all furniture design that had gone before it. Dark or gilded carved wood and richly patterned fabrics gave way to the glittering...
manufacturer. In 1938, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to found a furniture manufacturing company of his own. In 1941, he paired with furniture designer Jens Risom
Jens Risom
Jens Risom is a Danish American furniture designer. An exemplar of Mid-Century modern design, Risom was one of the first designers to introduce Scandinavian design in the United States. Note: "Jens" is pronounced "Yenns", and almost rhymes with "fence".-Biography:Jens Risom was born in...
to launch the Hans Knoll Furniture Company. (Risom designed 15 of the 20 pieces of furniture in the Hans Knoll Furniture Company's "600" line, which began production in 1941.)
In 1943, Knoll was approached by Florence Schust
Florence Knoll
Florence Knoll Bassett is an American architect and furniture designer who studied under Mies van der Rohe and Eliel Saarinen. She was born in Saginaw, Michigan as Florence Schust and is known in familiar circles simply as "Shu"...
, an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who had studied under Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect. He is commonly referred to and addressed as Mies, his surname....
and Eliel Saarinen
Eliel Saarinen
Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen was a Finnish architect who became famous for his art nouveau buildings in the early years of the 20th century....
. Schust convinced Knoll that she could help bring in business to his company even in America's wartime economy by expanding into interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
by working with architects. With her architectural background and design flair, she succeeded. Hans Knoll fell in love with Florence Schust and in 1946, they were married. At that time, they changed the name of the Hans Knoll Furniture Company to Knoll Associates.
The Knolls determined that, although they were focused on modern design
Modern furniture
Modern furniture refers to furniture produced from the late 19th century through the present that is influenced by modernism. It was a tremendous departure from all furniture design that had gone before it. Dark or gilded carved wood and richly patterned fabrics gave way to the glittering...
, they would also abide by the values of the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
: design excellence, technological innovation and mass production
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
. They took the at the time innovative idea of paying royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
to their designers based on how well the designer's furniture sold. In this way, they were able to attract the design services of Harry Bertoia
Harry Bertoia
Harry Bertoia , was an Italian-born artist, sculptor, and modern furniture designer....
and Eliel Saarinen
Eliel Saarinen
Gottlieb Eliel Saarinen was a Finnish architect who became famous for his art nouveau buildings in the early years of the 20th century....
. Knoll Associates also acquired the rights to the Barcelona chair
Barcelona chair
The Barcelona chair was exclusively designed for the German Pavilion, that country's entry for the International Exposition of 1929, which was hosted by Barcelona, Spain...
designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect. He is commonly referred to and addressed as Mies, his surname....
.
In 1945, Knoll launched its Knoll Planning Unit, under Florence's direction. She also launched a textiles division in 1947.
Hans Knoll moved the firm's headquarters to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1950, believing that he would be able to find talented craftsmen among the region's large German population.
He died in a car crash with a runaway truck in 1955 at the age of 41. Hans Knoll was survived by his widow Florence who became president of their company and his 2 children from an earlier marriage Peter Knoll and Maria (Maja) Knoll.