Charles and Ray Eames are synonymous with the growing field of ergonomics, h Eames Lounge for Herman Miller an iconic example of what can happen when innovative design meets considered craftsmanship. The Eames were very interested in exploring materials, using traditional industrial parts to create a completely coherent project: Eames Pavilion systemfirst appears in Milan Triennale. It comes alive through its collaboration Eames office and On diskeach place is colorful, distinct and most importantly, human.
The facade is designed for the natural flows of life – the windows open wide to freshen the air inside, with the colorful panels available in custom configurations, fitted for privacy or public views. Yes, these are containers: containers for life, which one can place like blocks as we wish.
For the Eamses, the house was first and foremost a design problem. The contribution of architecture, with Charles’s background, and Ray’s expertise of a painter’s eye created a beautiful understanding of human nature, which they then translated into the built environment. “In the almost 40 years that I have been Director of the Eames Office, I am repeatedly asked if it is possible to buy a reproduction of the Eames House. One-to-one replicas can be interesting, however we have always expected something else – a true systems approach that was also international in its solution. The new system promotes prefabricated Eames products to prefabricated or non-original products. A fully designed architectural ecosystem The Eames houses – many of these unbuilt – were always landmarks and prototypes for such development, the writings of our grandfathers clearly show that even when designed for a specific site, the intention was to produce rows of human habitation.
A balance and symmetry dominate the form, an extension of their design philosophy inside and out. Not content with creating an object for beauty’s sake, every aspect of the home reflected a deep understanding of human movement, trajectory and nature: the gathering around the kitchen counter, the pile of shoes in the hallway. Of course, standards differ between cultures, but there are certain things we continue to hold true, for ourselves and others. This is what the Eames were really interested in, and it shows.
A brilliant burst of blue and yellow amidst the industrial black and gray are the signature Eames, creating personality and bringing out Ray’s sensibility as an artist. Industrial details and cold metal soften into the sensibility of family and connection, a peace of mind that is a talent in itself.
To learn more about the Eames Pavilion System, visit kettal.com.
Photo by Yosigo, Rocafort, courtesy of Kettal.
