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Post-War plastics: Dieter Rams’s innovations in design, 1956 to 1974
24 June 2008
Plastic. Modernity. Sustainability. Compatible?
To coincide with the Victoria and Albert Museum’s exhibition, Cold War Modern: Design 1945–1970, we are exhibiting from from 11 September to 18 October 2008 Dieter Rams’s pioneering plastic furniture.
In 1956 Rams was only a 24-year-old when he put the first acrylic lid on a record player, Braun’s SK4, better known as Snow White’s Coffin. Shortly afterwards he met Niels Vitsœ and they were soon intrigued by the possibilities being offered by plastic. The production of larger, stronger, lighter parts was becoming possible. How could the products of expensive tooling best be deployed to offer adaptability, variability and longevity in the world of furniture?
Through the 60s and 70s Vitsœ and Rams worked personally with a range of suppliers to produce the original Vitsœ beds, stools, tables and chairs that are exhibited at 72 Wigmore Street for the first time since the early 80s.
There is even a day-bed dating from 1968 that was designed with an expanded Polystyrene mattress which was, in turn, used as the packaging for delivering the other parts of the bed.
11 September to 18 October 2008
Monday-Saturday 1000-1800 Sunday closed