While famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright is best known for his iconic buildings dotted across America, he would occasionally turn his sketch pad to the creation of more everyday objects, from office desks to floor lamps. One such project was for the Johnson Wax Headquarters in 1939, which also required him to design the office furniture for the building, and this week the original manufacturer Steelcase has faithfully relaunched Wright’s original desks and chairs.
Though you mightn’t have come across it before, Steelcase is an American manufacturer of furniture and storage solutions that dates back to 1912 and worked directly with Wright on the Johnson Wax Headquarters project. It’s a rare moment when an original manufacturer is still in business to be able to reissue a collection from nearly a century ago, but that’s exactly what this latest range from Steelcase offers, accurately recreating the original desks with a couple of minor concessions to reflect how we work in 2023.
The multi-level desks feature an elongated oval shape for their main surface, with an integrated waste paper basket on the left side and a tower of desk drawers on the right that are able to swivel out for more ergonomic access. The work desk arrives with a matching chair, which has been adapted slightly to accommodate our understanding of biomechanics and seated posture over the last eight decades, but otherwise remains quite original to Wright’s own design.
“From its beginnings over 80 years ago, Steelcase’s relationship with Frank Lloyd Wright has helped to revolutionise design for work,” said Meghan Dean, general manager of ancillary merchandising and partnerships at Steelcase.
“Now, we continue that mission into the home, as there’s never been a better time to revisit design principles that have always been ahead of their time.”
The Frank Lloyd Wright Racine Collection is now available directly from Steelcase, with chairs costing between US$1,800 and US$2,600 (AU$2,540 – $3,700), while the office desk options start from US$2,600 (AU$3,700) for the Utility Table and go up to US$9,750 (AU$13,760) for the Signature Desk.
