Verner Panton
Verner Panton is born on 13.02.1926 in Brahesborg-Gamtofte on the Danish island Fünen. In 1947 he visited the Technical University in Odense and studied afterwards in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts until 1951.
Immediately after his studies Panton got the chance to work in the design studio of the famous architect and designer Arne Jacobsen as an assistant for two years. He is involved in the design of the legendary Ant chair.
Panton's claim now distinguishes itself fundamentally from the prevailing style, which is characterized by natural materials and soft forms: He harbours a deep fascination for artificial materials. After he traveled with his VW bus throughout Europe for three years he opened his own studio in 1955.
In 1958 the Wire Cone Chair attracts worldwide attention. The cantilever S designed for Thonet prompted Panton to transfer the principle of plywood bending by steam pressure to the material plastic. He researches this task for eight years until he presents the Panton Chair, the first monobloc cantilever chair made of plastic. In 1963 the collaboration with Vitra begins in Basel. It takes until 1967 for the manufacturer to handle the new material and the Panton Chair is produced in serial.
Verner Panton interior designs are legendary where he plays with intense colours and large geometric patterns. The entire interior is made in a uniform colour and form concept. In 1969, he designs the interior of the Spiegel publishing house - the cafeteria is still preserved in its original style. His Visiona ships for the Cologne Furniture Fair in 1968 and 1970 as well as the restaurant Varna in Aarhus are further famous works. Verner Panton died on 05.09.1998 in Copenhagen.
Verner Panton: famous designs
Many designs of Verner Panton are prototypical for the psychedelic style of the seventies. His concept of fusion of space and function is as innovative as it is visionary. Without his stated preference for strong colours the seventies would have been far less colorful.
The Panton Chair (1967) is undoubtedly one of the most important chairs of the twentieth century. Not only the extravagant design and the bright colours make the chair unique: It also impressively demonstrates the capabilities of the underlying material, since it is made of a single piece of plastic.
The ingenious Moon Lamp (1960) has a luminous body of gradually size-increasing annular lamellae which are movably suspended around the central light source. They hide the light source and also serve as reflectors.
The joyful lamp series Flower Pot (1968) pays homage to the flower power era. It presents clear design language and radiant bright colours. Verner Panton has realised this design both as a hanging and as a table lamp.
