Eero Saarinen

Eero Saarinen was a Finnish American architect and industrial designer. He was born on Aug. 20, 1910, and his works included a neofuturistic style that helped them stand out among 20th century furniture. Saarinen studied sculpture at the Academie de la Grande Caumiere in Paris beginning in 1929. He finished his studies in 1934. After returning home to Finland, Saarinen and his father created the General Motors Technical Center in Warren, Michigan in 1940. This facility included rationalist design and Miesian style that boasted a combination of steel and glass and various accent of panels in two shades of blue.

Saarinen also designed the "Tulip Chair" in conjunction with American designer Charles Eames. The Tulip Chair was entered in the "Organic Design in Home Furnishings" competition in 1940 and won first prize. In addition, the Tulip Chair was later produced by the Knoll furniture company.

Throughout his lifetime, Saarinen created multiple works for Knoll, including the "Grasshopper" lounge chair and ottoman in 1946 and the "Womb" chair and ottoman in 1948. The majority of Saarinen's designs were commercially successful; however, the Grasshopper design failed to match the success of many of his other works.

Saarinen remains an inspiring figure in the world of rational architecture. His pieces typically included arching structural curves as well as a machine-like rationalism that made them exceedingly popular worldwide.