Robert Venturi & Denise Scott Brown
Queen Anne Chair
Knoll International
1984
Molded, laminated plywood
Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown wrote the book on Postmodernism. A few of them actually. In his 1966 book Complexity and Contradiction, Venturi argued for a more eclectic architecture which used more historic references; often referred to as his "gentle manifesto," it formed a basis for postmodernism, and was then reinforced by Learning from Las Vegas (1972; Venturi, Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour).
In 2016, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi as joint winners of the AIA Gold Medal. The AIA cited the duo for their "built projects as well as literature that set the stage for Postmodernism and nearly every other formal evolution in architecture." The architectural historian Stanislaus Von Moos added “… this firm has changed the face of modern architecture."
In 1984 Knoll International commissioned a series of new furniture from Venturi and Scott Brown. This furniture breaks the boundary between Traditional and Modern design by adapting a series of historical styles to industrial processes, and by using symbolism and decoration in a modern way.
The Queen Anne chair offered epitomizes this series. From the front, this molded and laminated plywood chair presents a complex silhouette and an ornamentally decorated surface while the side view remains subtle and refined. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or to arrange shipping/delivery.
