Fritz Haller against Egon Eiermann. While ahead of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup final many bemoaned the decision of both Switzerland and Germany to play safe with their more technical formations; the match itself was one for connoisseurs. Certainly a Nils Holger Moormann for Germany or a Susi and Ueli Berger for Switzerland could have brought a little more imagination and colour to the match. But what the two old masters lacked in flamboyancy they more than compensated for
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The second semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup was for many design critics the most interesting match of the competition Charles and Ray Eames against Egon Eiermann. Not only because of the international stature of the two design teams; nor because of the important role that both played in the development of industrial and furniture design in their home nations. The critical interest was much more if - and when yes to what extent - Egon Eiermann's approach would mirror
read moreThe first semi-final of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup pitted not only two generations against each other but two approaches to design: Fritz Haller the classically trained Swiss linealist and Tom Dixon the warehouse party welder turned doyen of contemporary English design. As ever Fritz Haller began with his universally acclaimed System USM Haller formation. The international success of Haller's USM Haller system is largely due to its deceptive flexibility: It looks rigid and
read moreTo close the group phases of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup one of the most anticipated contests: Charles and Ray Eames against Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. With everything to play for the Bouroullec brothers opened with an adventurous Slow Chair for Vitra before producing a wonderful Alcove Sofa. Neither attempt was quite good enough to break through a solid Eames defence; although were good enough to keep Charles and Ray Eames on the back foot and so prevent them making any
read moreThe familiar nature of Group D was continued with this meeting of two grandees of the international designer furniture circuit: Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard. With both still having an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-finals the start was edgy and imprecise. Alexander Girard however was first to find his rhythm and came close with an intricate Names fabric. Eero Saarinen responded with a clever Grasshopper chair, a move which produced the most delightful Millerstripe
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Although always a hard fought encounter this Holland - Germany match had an added edge; the winner proceeding to the semi-finals of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup. Ahead of the match the Dutch decided to switch Hella Jongerius for Marcel Wanders; hoping that the creative force behind moooi and droog could better counteract Grcic's clear, linear forms. And the tactic worked. With first his Knotted Chair and then his New Antiques combination for Capellini, Marcel Wanders took a
read moreFor both Canada and Spain the tournament was already over before this match kicked off. Despite that both sides contributed to a high quality and keenly contested match. Although on paper Patricia Urquiola was the favourite, she was unable to properly take advantage of her greater repertoire, preferring instead to rely on fairly large scale, prestige projects. Although Frank Gehry remained true to his non-linear form he surprised Urquiola late in the match with a left twist cube for Heller.
read moreKnowing that they needed to defeat Fritz Haller's stable and flexible USM Haller system in order to advance the Italians choose to stick with Antonio Citterio for this all or nothing encounter. Setting quickly to work Antonio Citterio rolled out a succession of office chairs; including the Oson CE, Axess and T-chair for Vitra. However regardless of what Antonio Citterio tried, Fritz Haller always found a combination to match and ultimately took a 1:0 lead with a beautifully finished Haller
read moreFollowing Verner Panton's red card against Fritz Haller, Denmark were forced into a change and so Arne Jacobsen lined-up against Maarten Van Severen. And although this was never going to be a high-tempo encounter the crowd in Johannesburg did become somewhat impatient at the incredibly slow pace of the competition. With both designers endlessly reworking and perfecting their pieces it was well into the second half before the first attack developed: a neat Ant Chair from Arne Jacobsen giving
read moreAlthough the majority of Ron Arad's work could squash most of Isamu Noguchi's, he played fair and held back from producing a Well-Tempered chair, preferring instead to work on variations in plastic. Despite some good Infinity Bottle Rack, Lovely Rita and Bookworm work for Kartell, Isamu Noguchi's constantly high standard Akari lamp variations held the Israeli at bay and the final 0:0 was a just result. The Group C table and all Group C results can be found
read moreFor Charles Rennie Mackintosh the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup may have been over; but matches against England always have their own incentive. With Tom Dixon replacing Jasper Morrison, the English took an early lead with the Dixon Bronze Copper Shade and moved further ahead with a beautifully worked Off Cut stool. In the second half Charles Rennie Mackintosh narrowed the gap with his Hill House chair; however Tom Dixon responded with a quick Wingback Chair and Spin candelabra
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After the strenuous match against Alexander Girard, France decided to rest Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for the match against Eero Saarinen. Their replacement, the enfant terrible of contemporary French design Philippe Starck however failed to match the old Finnish master; too often Philippe Starck strove forward with fairly predictable and poorly considered approaches. Eero Saarinen was able to make use of the gaps produced by Philippe Starck to good effect scoring with his Tulip Chair and a
read moreCharles Rennie Mackintosh was greatly influenced by Japanese design and this encounter against Isamu Noguchi quickly developed into a masterclass of subtle, self-confident, organic design. Charles Rennie Mackintosh took an instant lead with his complete interior ensemble for the Willow Tea Rooms. In particular the Willow Chair seemed to distract Noguchi through its familar, yet foreign narrative. Isamu Noguchi recovered however and drew level with his Freeform Sofa and Ottoman before moving
read moreDespite the rumours flying around ahead of this match, England stuck with Jasper Morrison rather than pitting Tom Dixon against Ron Arad. Whereas many would have relished the opportunity to have witnessed the two masters of "real" industrial design going head to head the Morrison/Arad encounter was every bit as entertaining. Unmoved by Ron Arad's Bookworm, Jasper Morrison concentrated on his chair work and took the lead with his Basel chair for Vitra; a simple move that produced the deserved
read moreFollowing their defeat of Eero Saarinen in their opening match, Charles and Ray Eames found themselves up against another old companion in the form of Alexander Girard in this all important second group match in the 2010 (smow) designer furniture world cup. Opening with a classic Plywood group combination of LCW and CTM Charles and Ray Eames moved steadily towards their former Herman Miller colleague. Complimenting the LCW chair and CTM table with an LCM chair Charles and Ray Eames seemed
read moreIf ever a designer furniture contest could be compared to a game of "rock-paper-scissors" then surely Hella Jongerius against Frank O. Gehry. The Mistress of Materials against the King of Solid Constructions. And so developed this match. Frank Gehry applied all his radical geometry to try to find a way through the Dutch defence; but found himself continually hindered by the fact that natural material forms are always more sustainable than artificially generated: Or put another way Hella
read moreThe careers of Konstantin Grcic and Patricia Urquiola could barely be more different; whereas Patricia Urquiola has steadily and confidently moved through the traditional Italian designer furniture producers, Konstantin Grcic has skipped from cult producer to cult producer with only the occasional diversion into the mainstream of European designer furniture producers. Opening with a Hut Ab for Nils Holger Moormann, Grcic then complimented this with an ES shelving system for Moormann before
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Both Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec as well as Alexander Girard had to wait a long time for their opening match in this years (smow) designer furniture world cup - but for the sell out crowd in Pretoria the wait was more than worth it. Although born in New York, Alexander Girard qualifies for Mexico on account of the Wooden Doll side of his family tree. Opening up with an impressive selection of traditional southern Portuguese patterns Girard was initially confused as the Bouroullec brothers
read moreFollowing his ankle injury Cesare "Joe" Colombo was replaced for this match by Antonio Citterio, one of the most experienced designers in the Italian squad. Opening with a quick Mobil for Kartell Antonio Citterio quickly reinforced this with a Follow Me for Vitra. Despite the intensity of the opening Citterio couldn't break Maarten Van Severn's legendary calm and the doyen of Belgian furniture design responded with an elegant LCP for Kartell and MVS Chaise for Vitra combination and so
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One of the high points of Verner Panton's career came in Switzerland when in Vitra he finally found a producer for his Panton Chair. Today however there was no room for sentiment and Panton came out fighting. Picking up where he left off against Joe Colombo Verner Panton attempted a quick plastic combination, his Barboy however going just wide. Fritz Haller remained as composed and sturdy as ever, the flexibility of his classic USM Haller system allowing him to respond to whatever move Verner
read moreThere is a very familiar flair to Group D and this opening encounter pitted three old friends against each other; Eero Saarinen and Charles and Ray Eames. The three have been close friends since the start of their careers and the common influences and experiences were clearly visible in many of their early approaches. The longer the contest ran however the more the differences appeared and the more each side could set their individual tone and make use if their individual strengths. For all
read moreAlthough stylistically worlds apart both Ron Arad and Charles Rennie Mackintosh are united by their individual and uncompromising style and approach to design. As expected it was Charles Rennie Mackintosh who made the stronger start, taking a 1:0 lead with his Argyle Chair - a brave break form contemporary convention and a deserved lead. Ron Arad's attempts at stemming Mackintosh's dominance largely lacked the required precision and all landed wide of their intended target. Late in the second
read moreThe first meeting between Jasper Morrison and Isamu Noguchi proved to be a truly one-sided affair; a result that although deserved, seemed unfair on the old master of Japanese design. Despite a few brave forays with his coffee table or rocking stools, Isamu Noguchi was unable to get away from his Akari Lamp stereotype. Jasper Morrison was more than able to profit from Noguchi's alleged monotypology and through some clever chair and crockery combinations was soon leading 4:0. Towards the end of
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Day two of the 2010 (smow) designer furniture World Cup and the first all female match: Patricia Urquiola against Hella Jongerius. As expected Urquiola started in her typical robust, voluminous fashion as demonstrated by her work with the likes of B&B Italia, Cassina or Molteni & C. Against the more wily, formally adventurous Jongerius, however, Urquiola advanced only slowly with her classic "lounge" approach. Switching to a more synthetic "Kartell" Approach seemed to offer Urquiola more
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