from 'Interior Design' — August 2006 — Designers innovative pieces are informed by the works by Fuller, Safdie, and Van Der Rohe

In the 19th century, Chicago architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase "form follows function." Today, the Chicago Furniture Designers Association borrowed the still-relevant words to dub its 2006 exhibit. "Form Follows Form, Architecturally Inspired Furniture," which was held September 21—October 28, presented the creations of Chicago designers that honor the tradition and the institution of architecture itself. Suddenly, the act of building furniture took on a whole new meaning, as designers integrated architectural concepts into their pieces. The show was held in the Upper Level Sculpture Gallery in the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology

Some of the entries in the juried show included a Buckminster Fuller-inspired chair by John Kriegshauser that is so structurally efficient, it weighs less than 3 pounds but can support a large man; an infinitely reconfigurable coffee table by Robert Frazier that takes it cues from Moshe Safdie; Dolly Spragins's whimsical "Windy City," inspired by the elasticity of skyscrapers; and Lisa Elkins's coffee table, which references Mies Van Der Rohe's Crown Hall.



"Chicago is full of world-class buildings” says designer and CFDA president Christopher Brandel of CEB Design. “Having these great resources to draw on in our own work is certainly exciting."

The exhibition, part of Chicago Artists' Month, was free and open to the public. An opening reception was held on October 5 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the gallery, which is located at 35 West 33rd Street on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus.

The first image shows John Kriegshauser's Buckminster Fuller-inspired chair

Kriegshauser taught at the Kansas City Art Institute prior to establishing and operating his own custom furniture business for thirteen years in Kansas City, Missouri. Nine years ago he came to Chicago to take a position at the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology where he currently teaches.

In addition to his furniture design work he writes articles and makes instructional videos.

John Kriegshauser
Illinois, Institute of Technology
3360 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60616
312.567.3259
fax: 312.567.5820
Kriegshauser@iit.edu


Chicago Furniture Designers Assoc.

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