Dezeen Magazine

Karakter revives classic Joe Colombo pieces for new collection

Danish design brand Karakter has relaunched furniture and lighting created by Italian industrial designer Joe Colombo in the 1960s (+ slideshow). 

The designer's wood and leather Pouf stool is included in the collection, as well as his Chair 300 – a dining chair designed in 1965 and created to be easily stacked and shipped.

Karakter design updated versions of Joe Colombo classic designs
Joe Colombo's wood and leather Pouf stool is included in Karakter's collection

The stool features a leather seat supported by panels of wood and includes a cut-out section at the back that can be used as a handle.

The dining chair similarly has a wooden framework, but it features a curved seat upholstered in either fabric or leather.

Karakter design updated versions of Joe Colombo classic designs
The dining chair has a wooden framework with a curved seat upholstered in either fabric or leather

Colombo, who died in 1971 on his 41st birthday, rejected sharp corners and straight lines in favour of curvaceous forms.

He looked to new technologies to develop "machines for living", which were multifunctional and often mobile pieces of furniture seen as futuristic at the time.

Karakter design updated versions of Joe Colombo classic designs
Colombo's Domo lighting also features in Karakter's collection in floor, wall or table versions

Colombo's Domo lighting also features in Karakter's collection in floor, wall or table versions. The lamps are held on thin steel rods, with the wall light sat on the end of a distinctive arched branch.

A set of 10 drinking glasses created by the designer in 1968 has additionally been revived. Featuring different vessels for water, spirits and long drinks, the Sferico collection combines spherical and cylindrical shapes within each glass.

Born Cesare Colombo, the designer opened his Milan studio in 1962 and created products for brands including Oluce, Kartell, Bieffe, Alessi, Flexform and Boffi.

Karakter design updated versions of Joe Colombo classic designs
The Domo wall light sitting on the end of a distinctive arched branch

Some of his key designs were the Universale stacking chair made from ABS plastic, and the injection-moulded Boby Trolley that had rotating trays and pocket drawers.

The brand Karakter was launched by Dutch designer Aldo Bakker in 2015. Its first collection featured shelving by Colombo, as well as furniture by Bakker and stools by Paris designer Guillaume Delvigne.

Several classic furniture designs have relaunched in recent years. Vitra unveiled updated versions of 1940s office furniture designed by Jean Prouvé, and John Lewis has put Robin Day's 1963 stackable Polyside chair back into production.