They designed iconic furniture and defined a movement. But first: Eero Saarinen, Florence Knoll, Ray and Charles Eames, and Harry Bertoia became lifelong friends, all meeting at The Cranbrook Academy of Art—that period is now known as the ‘golden age’ at Cranbrook.
Collectively their work and contributions greatly influenced the development of modern design and continue to be celebrated and appreciated today.
This is their story—and a big part of MillerKnoll.
Known for his modernist style, The Cranbrook Academy of Art campus was designed in 1925 by Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen with his wife Loja (known as Louise) Saarinen. Louise was a talented textile artist, sculptor, and designer. She was an accomplished figure in her own right and made valuable contributions to art and design. Louise taught at Cranbrook and had a significant impact on its weaving program. Later their son Eero, also a renowned architect, designed several structures within the Cranbrook complex.
The Cranbrook campus was designed as a residential community, with students, faculty, and staff living in close proximity. This setup encouraged a strong sense of community and facilitated ongoing collaboration and interaction beyond the classroom, fostering experimentation in design and with materials.
Eero Saarinen studied at the Yale School of Architecture and later became a teacher at The Cranbrook Academy of Art. One of his iconic designs, the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport, is like being inside a piece of sculpture and his pedestal tables and chair, likewise, are like a piece of sculpture.
Florence Knoll Bassett, an architect and furniture designer studied at Cranbrook and became a protégé of Eliel Saarinen while he was the head of the school’s design department. Florence’s modern furniture designs were highly influential and helped shape the direction of mid-century modern design.
Harry Bertoia was an Italian-American artist, sculptor, and furniture designer. He studied and taught at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. His “Diamond Chair” became an iconic piece of mid-century modern furniture.
Charles Eames also studied at Cranbrook. Charles was obsessed with bending plywood into 3D forms and with parts. He is known for saying “it’s all about the connections, connections, connections”. His wife Ray, did not study at Cranbrook, but worked as an artist and met Charles when she was asked to assist him and Eero Saarinen on a project for the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
RAY & CHARLES EAMES DESIGNS
The Cranbrook Academy of Art fostered a ‘total design’ concept. An innovative educational approach that aimed to foster creativity and collaboration across different artistic disciplines. ‘Total design’ was developed by Eliel Saarinen when he became the first president of the Academy in 1832. The concept was based on several key principles and design intents – Integration with Nature; Functionalism & Efficiency; Tradition & Craftmanship; Formal Elegance & Monumentality; Artistic Expression & Aesthetics, and Collaborative & Community-Oriented Spaces.
Overall, Eliel Saarinen's design for the Cranbrook Academy of Art exemplifies his dedication to creating environments that celebrate the harmony between nature and architecture while providing functional and inspiring spaces for artistic and educational pursuits.
The campus stands as a testament to his visionary approach where everything is considered. The buildings, landscape, and various elements were detailed and carefully integrated, which created an inspiring and cohesive environment for creative exploration, and today continues to be a significant architectural and educational landmark in the United States.
Florence Knoll Bassett married Hans Knoll in 1946 and they co-founded Knoll Furniture a few years earlier in 1938. Hans did not study at Cranbrook but his interest in furniture design began at an early age. He immigrated to the United States in the 1930, where he started his own furniture manufacturing company in New York City.
Florence was heavily influenced by the ‘total design’ approach and this same approach came out in her office and furniture design ensuring everything was fully integrated with integrity.
In contrast, Herman Miller had more of a furniture-based approach to space planning. The coming together of these two genius companies in 2021 is like the Yin & Yang of office planning and furniture design, informing each other on how to create the office of today.
EXPLORE HERMAN MILLER
Designcraft is the exclusive Canberra Herman Miller® dealer and authorised Retailer in the ACT and surrounding region.