The Knoll Planning Unit
Florence Knoll directed the interior design service of Knoll Associates, The Knoll Planning Unit (1943–1971). Knoll and the Planning Unit were important figures in the development of interior design from the 1940s to the 1970s. They created some of the most innovative design for office interiors during the post-war period, largely due to Knoll’s rational thinking and humanized modernism ideas. Knoll applied her architectural knowledge and techniques to the design of interior spaces. For example, she used the architectural method of setting and solving design problems to create spaces with a unity of function and design, which met client needs. The Planning Unit aimed to fuse architectural space and its contents by not only creating a consistent visual language of the modern office space, but also making it inhabitable and responsive to the changing needs of everyday living and working. Knolls choice of furniture, textured fabrics and vibrant colour scheme (primary colours used against black, white and beige) not only became part of the Knoll look, they addressed the human desire for comfort, texture and colour. However she did not want to be confused for an interior decorator, insisting ‘I am not a decorator… the only place I decorate is my own house,’ signifying the developing profession of interior designer during the 20th century. This saw the move away from decorating rooms and towards designing. Knoll and the Planning unit had a radical influence on American office environments, beginning by replacing the traditional heavy, carved mahogany desks with modern, lighter designs, as well as, straightening the common diagonal positioning of the executive’s desk. She redesigned conference tables into a boat-shape so that people could see one another to meet requirements for group discussions. Perhaps her largest contribution to the design of office space was the Introduction of open plan workstations, which offered clients advantages of cost and flexibility over traditional private offices. This approach is still widely used today. The Planning Unit not only specified furniture models and arrangements but also corresponding textiles, carpets, window treatments and office accessories.
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Famous quotes containing the words knoll, planning and/or unit:
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