Otto Kolb was a Swiss-born architect and designer who taught design at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago during the late 1940s. In addition to teaching, Mr. Kolb was commissioned to build several contemporary homes in the US, among them the Horner House in Illinois, which is listed in the US National Register of Historic Places. Built in the early 1980s, the Kolb House in Switzerland is still an important source of inspiration to Swiss designers, as well as a fine example of modern and sustainable architecture. For his lifetime of work, Kolb was honored with an award from the New York Museum of Modern Art.
During the 1950s and ‘60s, Kolb produced a limited-edition run of modern furniture, which was produced by his own company, Otto Kolb Design AG. His production later expanded to include powerhouse furniture retailers and producers like his good friend Walter Knoll. Kolb’s original work is difficult to find, but can still be viewed in renowned museums–like the Louvre in Paris–and in major global auction houses, like Sotheby’s and Quittenbaum.
In 1963, Kolb and Knoll worked together to redesign and produce a limited edition of a heavy upholstered love chair. Kolb’s granddaughter Ginger Zalaba, owner and designer at Zalaba Design in Zurich, will work again with Walter Knoll in Germany to revive a sleek and sexy Lovechair. This variation which will debut in 2017, is similar to the first prototype produced in 1950, which was sufficiently eyecatching to be featured in an early Playboy Magazine.
“To be given the opportunity to work with Walter Knoll to revive and modernize my grandfather’s Love Chair is a dream come true. It’s truly an honor to be able to continue my grandfather’s legacy of modern furniture; this new collection updates his principles of modern design, while still keeping his integrity for design.” Ginger Zalaba