Swivel Chair Tulip

Eero Saarinen

Son of Eliel Saarinen, he moved from Finland to the United States in 1923, graduated from Yale in 1934 and then specialized at the ‘Cranbrook Institute of Architecture and Design’, which his father used to manage. During these years he met Charles Eams, with whom he dedicated to research of new technologies in the use of materials. 
He then founded his architectural firm: “Eero Saarinen and Associated”. With Eero Saarinen the firm realizes some of its most important works, such as the Bell Labs Holmdel Unit in Holmdel, the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, the Miller House in Columbus, the TWA Flight Center at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. During his collaboration with Knoll, Saarinen designed many important furnishings: “Grasshopper” armchair and poufs (1946), “Womb” pouf and chair (1948), “Womb” sofa (1950) and his most famous line of works “Tulip” (1956). 
Following the great success of the project for the General Motors Technical Center, big American companies asked Saarinen to design their new chairs. Eero Saarinen was elected member of the American Institute of Architects in 1952. The designer is now considered one of the American masters of the twentieth century.