2016 sees Augsburg based manufacturer Müller Möbelfabrikation celebrate their 20th anniversary, and to mark their round birthday the company have gifted themselves, and by extrapolation us all, a new round(er) form.
Round(er) for despite their inherent quadraticness Müller Möbelfabrikation objects have always had a curvaceous soul; be that as expressed through the subtle contours of the grandiose TB 229 desk from the company's original 1996 Classic Line collection, or more obvious as with, for example, the PS07 Secretary by Delphin Design.
For their 20th birthday Müller Möbelfabrikation have taken the elegance of curved sheet steel to its natural conclusion, completed the circle as it were, with the side tables LO12 and LH12 by Jan Armgardt and the umbrella stand Step by Philipp Günther: the former combining a sheet steel body with a wooden base to provide a well proportioned, effortlessly functional everyday object for every home, the latter demonstrating an almost subversive sense of humour. We're not sure why but viewing Step was more akin to viewing a caricature of an umbrella stand than an actual physical sheet steel umbrella stand. Something we may not understand, but most definitely approve of.
In addition Müller Möbelfabrikation used IMM Cologne 2016 to release some new additions to their award winning Stack sideboard system by Kressel + Schelle, including a secretary module and a bar module. Modules which not only add an extra degree of functionality to the Stack system, but also make Stack much more personable.
As ever with Müller Möbelfabrikation the new objects are far from revolutionary, aren't going to turn the contemporary furniture market on its head, but much more demonstrate the understated beauty that can arise when a furniture maker concentrates on producing simple, honest, functional furniture which contributes to its environment and the users enjoyment of such: when a furniture maker remains true to itself rather than chasing every trend and every perceived market.
Something Müller Möbelfabrikation have been demonstrating very successfully for the past twenty years. And which we are certain they will continue to do for the next twenty.
Happy Birthday Müller Möbelfabrikation!
