Richard Schultz designed the 1966 Collection at the request of Florence Knoll who, after retiring, wanted outdoor furniture that could withstand the corrosive Florida ocean air. The 1966 Collection is regarded as the first modern outdoor furniture and has been the category standard ever since.
“In April 1963 Florence Knoll approved the outdoor program. I had to develop all the patterns for all the cast parts. It took me a long time to develop the collection, as there wasn’t a whole team of people to help me. Details were carefully considered. We spent so much time refining it. That’s why the furniture still looks fresh.
“In March 1966 the furniture was introduced. The furniture didn’t have extraneous curves. Most outdoor furniture those days was designed to look like it was designed before the French Revolution, with stamped out metal, bunches of flowers and leaves; it was very much period looking furniture. This was the first outdoor furniture that enthusiasts of modern design could say, ‘this is a breath of fresh air.'”
– Cast and extruded aluminum frame
– Weather resistant polyester powder coat finish
– Woven vinyl coated polyester mesh upholstered
producer: knoll
period: 1966
