Hans Eichenberger

Hans Eichenberger (* 1926 in Grosshöchstetten , Canton of Bern ) is a Swiss interior architect and designer. Since the 1950s, furnishings and furniture in a straight, modern style have been created based on his designs. His work is exhibited in well-known museums.

Life

After an apprenticeship as a carpenter and several traineeships as a draftsman, he worked for the Architecte d'Interieur Marcel Gascoin in Paris in 1950/51 , where he received the decisive impetus for sustainable design as well as an insight into the scene around Le Corbusier . Back in Bern he ran his own shop "form" on Gerechtigkeitsgasse in the neighborhood of his competitor and later friend Teo Jakob until 1953 . With Robert and Trix Haussmann , Kurt Thut , Teo Jacob and the graphic artist and photographer Alfred Hablützel they founded the "Swiss Design" In the 1950s, then began his collaboration with the architectural firm founded in 1956 Atelier 5 . He planned the bistro and shop for their settlement in Halen near Bern, which is currently under construction . His studio has been based in the Halensiedlung since 1960.

plant

Eichenberger realized various meeting rooms and offices in cooperation with Atelier 5 for the management of the Swiss National Bank from 1976–81, and from 1979–81 the counter hall and furnishings for commercial buildings and restaurants for the savings and loan koffes. 1982–83 the cafeteria was built as an extension to the Kunstmuseum Bern . His SBB wagons with their seats covered in blue and red fabric became known throughout Switzerland . Together with Gertsch and Head , ski safety bindings were developed in 1966-80. Hans Eichenberger has designed over 50 seating furniture, chests of drawers (Swiss drawers ), tables and other furnishings - for example the “Saffa chair” in 1955 for Dietiker, the “EXPO armchair” in 1964 and the “HE series” in 1978. To his customers belonged, among others, to Röthlisberger , Strässle , Wogg , De Sede and Dietiker . Contrary to his origins in the carpenter's trade, his creations consist predominantly of metal, leather and plastics - including one of his classics, the «Litfass column» for Wogg.

Eichenberger's designs are represented in various collections, including the MoMA New York, the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein and the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich .

Eichenberger is a member of the Swiss Werkbund (SWB).

literature

Literature by and about Hans Eichenberger in the catalog of the German National Library
Hans Eichenberger: 30 years of Teo Jakob , catalog for the exhibition Oct. 31–22. Nov. 1986, publisher Jakob, Bern; Geneva 1987
Hans Eichenberger: New metal furniture , catalog for the exhibition from Sept. 26th – 26th. October 1958, Zurich Museum of Decorative Arts 1958
Beautiful living book: Modern classics, furniture that made history , Verlag Gruner + Jahr, Hamburg 1980 (?), ISBN 3-570-01367-7
45 years of sitting with Hans Eichenberger , catalog retrospective 2. – 29. Nov. 1996, Design Center Langenthal 1996
Heinz J. Zumbühl, Barbara Miesch, Oliver Slappnig, Peter Kühler: Halen settlement , milestone in modern settlement architecture , Verl. Haupt 2010, ISBN 978-3-258-07616-4

Awards

2007 Design Prize of the Bern Foundation for Applied Arts and Design: Berner Design Hans Eichenberger
2016 Swiss Grand Prix Design: Appreciation by the Swiss Confederation for Eichenberger's pioneering role in the Swiss history of furniture design and interior architecture in the 20th century

Individual evidence

↑ [1] Gertsch ski bindings
↑ SWB member list accessed on June 1, 2019

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Eichenberger, Hans
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Swiss interior designer
DATE OF BIRTH	1926
PLACE OF BIRTH	Grosshöchstetten

[1] [1] Gertsch ski bindings

[2] SWB member list accessed on June 1, 2019