David Adjaye’s Washington Collection for Knoll

This month, Knoll introduced its first collection designed by architect David Adjaye, The Washington Collection for Knoll. The collection was developed during the realization of Adjaye’s undertaking of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington D.C. and transforms the architect’s vision into accessible objects for the home.

The two cantilevered  chairs, club chair, ottoman, side table and monumental bronze coffee table that make up the collection balance function with a sculpture-like element that is apparent in all of Adjaye’s work. “The Washington Collection is an investigation into form, materials, balance and weight. I wanted to create furniture that is both playful and beautiful–appearing light yet also expressing monumentally,” says Adjaye.

Knoll design director Benjamin Pardo said, “David is doing really innovative and important architectural projects, and what really interested us was to see that work on an entirely new scale.”

The Washington Corona coffee table really shows of the architect’s tools with its four cast bronze panels and connecting plates. The exterior, rough-hewn, contrasts the highly reflective, hand-polished surface of the interior.This particular piece is limited to an edition of 75 and each comes with a bronze miniature that serves as a commemorative signature plate. The cantilevered side chairs, Washington Skin and Skeleton and Corona coffee table are available in the United States now and the geometric club chair, ottoman and side table will be available in early 2014.