After graduating with a degree in architecture from Milan Politecnico, Franco Albini straddled the fields of furniture, product design, architecture, urban planning, and interior design. While working under famed Italian designer Gio Ponti, Albini developed an appreciation for combinations of traditional craft techniques and modern forms.
Read MoreAs his career evolved, Albini became an important member of the Italian Neo-Rationalist architecture movement. His portfolio is recognized for remarkably transparent furniture designs, which often feature basic, near-raw materials and make little effort to conceal their internal structure or production processes .
In 1949, Knoll introduced an Albini-designed desk, and two chairs — one with metal legs and one with wooden legs. The simple desk, a representative example of Albini’s aesthetic of transparency, is still produced by Knoll today
With glass, chrome-plated steel and painted wood, Franco Albini’s 1938 floating pedestal desk demonstrates a commitment to both modernism and traditional artisanship. Created by one of the first European designers commissioned to work for Knoll. Two-drawer pedestal available in ebonized oak or white lacquer.
48″W x 26″D x 27.5″ H
Top: 1⁄2″ polished plate glass
Two-drawer “floating” wood pedestal
Rear open shelf for magazines or small books
Frame and legs: Square steel tube with chrome finish
