A classic is something that, every time you look at it, you accept it as it is, and you see no way of improving it…
Warren Platner studied at Cornell University, graduating in 1941 with a degree in architecture. He went on to work with legendary architects Raymond Loewy, Eero Saarinen, and I. M. Pei before opening his own architecture practice. Platner made notable architectural contributions throughout his career, including the Georg Jensen Design Center and the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center, both in New York City.
In the 1960s, Warren Platner saw an opportunity. “I felt there was room for the kind of decorative, gentle, graceful kind of design that appeared in period style like Louis XV, but it could have a more rational base instead of being applied decoration,” he said.
By welding hundreds of curved steel rods to circular frames, Platner achieved his goal to create a form that simultaneously serves as structure and ornament. His iconic dining table has been a celebrated focal point in dining rooms since 1966.
Originally introduced by Knoll in 1966, the Platner Collection is an icon of modern furniture. Platner personally formulated the production techniques for the complicated designs with each chair requiring over a thousand welds and more than one hundred cylindrical steel rods. Knoll also introduced an executive private office collection designed by Platner.
