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Art of Reason
the 606 Universal Shelving System and 620 Chair program, 1960-62
designed by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe
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Walls & Heroic Structures
experimental architectural study-models hewn in wood
created by Michele De Lucchi, 2005-6
Opening night reception: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 5-8 PM
Moss Gallery
152 Greene Street (corner of Houston Street); New York
Preceded by A conversation with Dieter Rams: Murray Moss interviews Professor Rams
4-5 PM
AIA Center for Architecture
536 LaGuardia Place
The exhibition will be on view through November 5.
New York - Rational Design, as we know it, is best represented by the half-century prolific output of German industrial designer Dieter Rams. Having designed a good number of the most treasured Modernist icons, Professor Rams, the ultimate Poetic Rationalist, particularly through his work for Braun AG (1955-1997) and Vitsoe (1957-present), repeatedly, quietly, diligently, and consistently introduced 'sustainable development', clarity of purpose, discretion, environmentalism, and intelligence into industrial design.
Perhaps his most defining statement is "Good design is as little design as possible."
With the Vitsoe company and Mr. Rams, Moss has created an entire gallery installation of the 606 Universal Shelving System , Rams' definitive Rational Landscape. Art of Reason will also serve as the American re-launch the 620 Chair Program, which has not been distributed in the US in over 30 years.
Generally acknowledged today as one of the 20th century's definitive Modern designs, the 606 is included in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, and the Design Museum London. In continuous production for over forty-five years, and with the continued input of Mr. Rams, this functional, highly systematized Organizational Tool embodies Rams' philosophies of Good Design. Almost autobiographical in nature, the 606 articulates, through its sculptural modesty and precision, Dieter Rams' Art of Reason.
Like its sibling, the 606 Universal Shelving System, The 620 Chair is also a 'kit' of individual parts, allowing for the simple interchangeability of castors for either feet or a swivel base, as well as for the replacement of the low back for the high back; multiple units of the chair can also be connected to create a sofa of indeterminate length. The 620 Chair is in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Design Museum, London.
Both the 606 Universal Shelving System and the 620 Chair Program are available exclusively within North America through Moss.
Also in this exhibition, juxtaposed against Rams' Rational thesis, Moss will present Walls & Heroic Structures - 15 wooden architectural models created by Italian architect Michele De Lucchi. Utopian in nature, these hand-hewn, one-off models were spontaneously executed by Mr. De Lucchi himself as rough, three dimensional sketches". Originating from no client brief, no actual project or site-specific plans, these free-hand, unresolved, dream-like dwellings - more Haiku than architecture - eloquently reveal the adventurous meanderings of a rich mind.
Each model is signed by the architect, and numbered. All works are available for sale.
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