For three-quarters of a century, Knoll has sought the design capabilities of accomplished architects to design furniture for its catalog. Among them are Charles Gwathmey and Robert Siegel. They both attended Ivy League architectural schools. Gwathmey obtained his master’s degree in architecture from the Yale School of Architecture in 1962. Robert Siegel graduated from Pratt Institute in 1962 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture, then went on to Harvard University and earned his master’s degree in 1963.1
Following the established pattern, they both worked in noted architectural firms to conduct their profession, build working knowledge on projects, handle client to firm relationships and acquire the vital knowledge of running an architectural firm. In 1968, Gwathmey and Siegel formed their architectural partnership in New York City.2 They specialized in designing residences.
Italian architect Gae Aulenti designed Knoll’s Boston showroom in 1968. Just over a decade later, the management of Knoll decided the company should have a new showroom in Boston to showcase its furnishings. After considering several firms, Knoll hired Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates Architects to design the multi-floor Knoll showroom in a six-story building on Newbury Street.3 It opened in 1980.
Gwathmey and Siegel’s working relationship on the Knoll showroom led to discussions about designing furniture. In the late 1970s, the only all-wood desk with drawers in the Knoll catalog was part of the Stephens System. There were executive desks from other furniture manufacturers in the conservative style in abundance. Knoll gave Gwathmey and Siegel a design brief to reimagine the all-wood standalone desk.
The two architects considered not just what such a desk was used for and its design, but also the fact traditional desks were substantial and heavy by their construction. They separated the left and righthand pedestals with drawers from the desktop and front. For Knoll they produced the Gwathmey Siegel Desk collection that included rectangular, bowfront and racetrack-end desktops, desk extensions and related cabinetry. This collection was added to the Knoll catalog in 1981.4
The following year, a collection of four tables was introduced. All the Gwathmey-Siegel furniture was available with Knoll’s proprietary Techgrain, an engineered wood veneer at lower cost, as well as mahogany veneer.5 The Gwathmey Siegel Collection remained in production for over a decade.6 What started as a desk and storage cabinet grew to an extensive office furniture collection. Today, the stand-alone desks and tables are of interest to collectors for use in a small business or home office.
In 1982, Knoll introduced a table collection designed by Gwathmey and Siegel. This included the No. GT399 39-inch square table, No. GT629 39×62-inch and No. GT749 39×74-inch rectangular tables, and the No. GT101 39×101-inch racetrack table. These tables remained in production through 1993.
1. Robert Siegel profile. Gwathmey, Siegle, Kaufman & Associates. https://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/firm/principalsrs.html.
2. Ibid.
3. Brian Lutz. Knoll – A Modernist Universe. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc. 2010. 204.
4. Eric Larrabee & Massimo Vignelli. Knoll Design. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, 1989. 294
5. Knoll Catalog and Price List 1984. 133-134, 195-196.
6. “1981 Product – The Gwathmey Siegel Desk Collection.” https://www.knoll.com/the-archive/.