office for architecture and furniture design, Berlin, founded 1999

 

Their collaboration goes right back to the playroom. As toddlers they used to build homes for Smurfs out of Lego bricks. Peter Christian Hertel and Sebastian Klarhoefer went on to study architecture in Berlin in the early 1990s. But only toward the endof the decade, each having gained valuable experience in various architecture offices, did the two friends start working together professionally – not, however, in their original vocation but instead in furniture design as a new challenge. In 1999 the two creative minds first presented their shelving concept at their own stand at the Cologne Furn i t u re Fair. The patented unit came on the market in the same year as webweb, produced by Zeitraum, later becoming available in a choice of materials. This all-purpose system, which has something of the magic of Lego bricks about it, can be just as functional in the kitchen as in the office or children’s room. It allows for unlimited combinations and takes an honoured place in the long line of impressive shelf units by German designers – the latest ranging from Endless Shelf (Werner Aisslinger) to FNP (Axel Kufus), and Screen (Performa) to Plattenbau (Kaether & Weise). The Berlin duo’s expertise in this field was again demonstrated by their remarkably successful system Freddy (2004 for elmarflötotto, 2007 as Freddy Plus)and more recently by their shelf unit Daidalos, named after the ancient inventor, architect and artist. The latter’s tubular steel frame offers stability without diagonals (2006 for ClassiCon). The Greek reference here is no accident: Hertel & Klarhoefer say explicitly that they want to create modern classics of lasting value. Indeed, their designs have a cool and matter-of-fact feel that is mirrored in the sobriety of a company name that simply combines their surnames. The two designers have recently been exploring new terrain. For elmarflötotto they created the shinyformica-topped table Straight and the stacking bed Marcel, a piece of such uncompromising simplicity that it can rival milestones like Hans Gugelot's Minimalbett (now from Habit) or Rolf Heide's Stacking Lounger.