Archinect - News

A look back at Charles & Ray Eames' lesser-known designs in honor of their symmetry in life and death

2022-08-22T18:31:00-04:00

Yesterday's date, August 21st, occupies a unique place in architectural and design history as the day when Charles and Ray Eames both passed away, separated by a decade (1978 and 1988), respectively.

The shared life and work of the iconic power couple has since become the subject of numerous books, catalogs, museum retrospectives, and an excellent 2011 documentary (to name only a few), and enjoys an outsized place in the rich lineage of other husband-and-wife architectural partnerships continued today by the work of SO – IL, TWBTA, Höweler + Yoon, DS+R, and many others.

From the possible influence on early hip-hop carried on later by Ice Cube and Michael Ford, to Ray’s rediscovered RIBA Gold Medal speech, the studio’s legacy as ongoing source of inspiration, and the tranquility of watching perhaps their most famous design being assembled by hand, Archinect has explored the output of their relationship from a number of different angles over the years. All are exemplary of the many me...

This is what happens when you combine the Eames Lounge Chair with a computer mouse

2019-04-22T12:52:00-04:00

As paying a tribute to the legendary designers, the design addresses the ergonomics and style of a computer mouse from the perspective of designing furniture.

Shane Chen, a Brooklyn-based industrial designer, took two classic designs (well, one classic and one classically ubiquitous) and mashed them up into this compelling concept for a computer mouse.

Quartz digs into the trillion-dollar global black market for fake “designer” chairs

2017-07-25T14:19:00-04:00

Labeled with nice-sounding terms like “reproduction,”replica,” or “homage,” many designer chairs in offices, hotel lobbies, airports, restaurants and even big furniture stores are actually unauthorized copies. And while a knock-off Eames or Barcelona chair might seem like a harmless, budget-friendly addition to your living room, these illegal knockoffs threaten the economy and the environment, and erode the very meaning of design.

For furniture designers, protecting intellectual property is challenging—IP laws for furniture in the US don’t protect function, so designers have to prove a unique element in their design to qualify for a patent. And even when a patent is obtained, its protections often do not apply in different regions—not very useful in a global marketplace. Companies who rip off classics benefit because they can skip the years-long product development phase and often have an easier time selling their versions because consumers are already familiar with the look.

The Eames took out a full page ad warning customers about fakes. The ad on the back cover of Arts and Architecture magazine instructed buyers to look for Herman Miller’s logo, the only authorized manufacturer of their chairs at the time.

To combat the spread of cheap knock-offs a five-year-old consortium of furniture manufacturers and design firms called BeOriginal Americas has been training US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers to ...

You can now buy the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman at CostCo

2017-04-19T12:29:00-04:00

It’s one of the most iconic pieces of mid-century modern architecture — and you can get it now at CostCo (provided you’re a member).

Designed by the famous duo themselves, the Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is made with a seven-layer walnut plywood veneer frame and removable leather cushions. They live in museums as well as many a stylish home.

For just $3,899.99 you can get one yourself (with free shipping!). That might seem steep, but it’s a solid $1,407 less than you’d get if you bought directly from Herman Miller.

CostCo might not be the most swank retailer, but they're actually a pretty fitting purveyor of the chair. After all, the Eames strived to make good design affordable to everyone.

Bliss out to this tranquil video of an Eames Lounge Chair being assembled by hand

2016-10-11T14:16:00-04:00

It's like the furniture version of ASMR. This short video from Vitra shows the materials of an Eames Lounge Chair coming together:

Mores Eames on Archinect: