“The Original Design”: a tribute to two great masters of design: Mies van der Rohe and Eero Saarinen, to mark the 20th anniversary of the RBC Avignon Showroom

Following the successful “The Original Design” exhibition, which opened in 2019 at the RBC Showroom in Paris, Knoll is now taking its finest classics on tour, with Avignon as the second stop in France.

The RBC Showroom in Avignon has always been widely admired and appreciated by design enthusiasts. “The Original Design” exhibition runs from 2 to 20 December 2021 and presents a concept entirely devoted to the works of Eero Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe: two cornerstones of their era who have been hugely influential in the field of modern and contemporary design. 

“The Original Design”, from the collection of works on display at RBC

“The Original Design” started out as a collection of works created by Knoll in the spring of 2019 to highlight the connection between Knoll’s masterpieces and the history of design. Each work plays a role in reconstructing the stories that are specific to the brand’s icons, like a tribute to a collective memory, a way of sharing each project from start to finish and demonstrating how the original idea develops from conception to realisation. Looking back to the origins of a project then becomes a way of looking to the future, not with dewy eyes but rather by realising the potential of a living heritage as a source of inspiration. Because while his methods and ideas may vary, his ability to interpret an original design remains constant in Knoll’s vision.
This exhibition highlights the connection between Knoll’s iconic pieces and the history of design through exceptional staging: furniture, photographs from archives, know-how, technical drawings, and creative development. The history of each collection is explored, explained, and enhanced. On this occasion, the MR, Barcelona, Womb, Tulip and Pedestal collections will be showcased.