Over a hundred years of development, innovation and vision, which became reality, under one roof. Take a look with us to their showroom at their German headquarters!
8. 3. 2017
Wilkhahn can be really called as a Ferrari among chairs. Thanks to pioneering, inventiveness, visionary has got to the of development in area of office chairs and tables production. Their products endure decades of reliable use in conjunction with a timeless design, which are their business goals - not to support throw away society, follow the sustainability and social justice.
Come with us to look at the showroom of Wilkhahn, that is fair and responsible professional!
Friedrich Hahne and Christian Wilkening founded a chair-making factory in Eimbeckhausen near Hanover. The manufacturing plant did not differ greatly from the other 100 or so small and medium-sized chair manufacturers in the area.At that time no one sensed that their fascination with experimentation would later pay off.
Wilkhahn became a pioneer of German industrial design in 1950s, experimented with new materials and evolved its own distinct design language.
In 1960s, truly revolutionary products were developed in close collaboration with the Ulmer Hochschule für Gestaltung (Ulm Academy of Design). Consumerism and the "ad libitum" attitude to design was set against the social responsibility of designers and the "moral of things". Wilkhahn adopted one of the maxims from the founding manifesto of the Ulm designers: "Our aim is to develop sustainable products, to increase their utility value and to reduce waste."
The 1970s were characterized by professionalism, especially in terms of design management. The 232 office chair range by Wilhelm Ritz became the basis of success in the office chair segment. This design classic took administrations and cashier workplaces, especially in financial institutions and insurance offices, by storm at a time when such businesses were keen on adopting a modern corporate image. And Wilkhahn became the talk of the town when it introduced profit-sharing for employees in line with the guiding principle of “social justice”.
In 1995 the "Picto" swivel chair - made from pure, coded and completely dismountable individual components - was the first office chair in the world to be awarded the environmental label of the Dutch Milieukeur Foundation.
