In Pursuit of Longevity – Walter Knoll

Championing design integrity and longevity for more than 150 years, European furnishing house Walter Knoll embodies the age-old adage of ‘buy once, buy well’. Its commitment to artisanship and expertise through handcrafted and thoughtful design spans its extensive collection – from the pioneering 369 Armchair, first designed in 1956 and still in production today, to the Shinzo Lounge Chair released earlier this year.

“Arguably, if you buy something once and it lives with you for 10 years, then it’s refurbished and lives with you for another 10, and so on – that is, in itself, a circular economy,” offers Samuel Gowland, Walter Knoll’s Director of Sales and Marketing. The German company has a strong presence in the Australian market, with a national network of long-standing partners. What’s more, its commitment to the unending level of artisanship imparted into its pieces prevails locally with a factory in South Australia. “We have skilled craftspeople based in Adelaide who actually make our furniture, so we have the ability to refurbish, re-upholster and put back to work a piece of furniture all on Australian soil.”

“We have skilled craftspeople based in Adelaide who actually make our furniture, so we have the ability to refurbish, re-upholster and put back to work a piece of furniture all on Australian soil,” says Samuel Gowland, Walter Knoll’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

Re-using and refurbishing is a pivotal part of the equation. However, as Samuel says, longevity seldom exists outside of good  quality – intelligent design crafted with the  finest materials – all of which are Walter Knoll requisites. “The only way we can ensure furniture is truly part of a circular economy is through a high-quality input as the starting point,” he says. “That means the best foams, durable materials and well-made core support structures that are fit for purpose.”

The Shinzo Lounge Chair, which features meticulously stitched saddle leather and solid timber armrests, neatly encapsulates this philosophy. “It has the Walter Knoll DNA of 150 years of skill and masterly craftsmanship,” Samuel says. Designed by EOOS and released during Milan Design Week, it’s an expression of knowledge and premium materiality that “dovetails nicely into the company’s pursuit for longevity,” Samuel says. Martin Bergmann of EOOS adds, “I can just imagine it being passed down from one generation to the next, enjoying a second and third life.”

The concept of design that endures is embedded in Walter Knoll’s identity – from the importance placed on touch and prowess to the inherent value that it continually promotes. Yet, there are no trends or trickery here; as Samuel says, “buy a piece of furniture that’s been made well, and you’ll enjoy it for a long time.”