Objects and Furniture Design: Charles and Ray Eames

With the new By Architects series, Ediciones Polígrafa launches an innovative project dedicated to showcasing furniture and objects designed by some of the most important architects of the twentieth century. Three titles open this series: Alvar Aalto, Jean Prouvé and Ray and Charles Eames.
Best known for their contributions to architecture, furniture design (especially the Eames chair), industrial design, film and photography, Charles and Ray Eames remain among the most renowned American designers of the twentieth century. The couple married in 1941 and moved to California, where they pursued their furniture design in molded plywood. During the war they were commissioned by the U.S. Navy to produce molded plywood splints, stretchers and experimental glider shells. In 1946, Evans Products began producing the Eames' molded plywood furniture. Their iconic molded plywood chair was called "the chair of the century" by the influential architectural critic Esther McCoy.
In 1949, Charles and Ray designed and built their own home in Pacific Palisades, their design and imaginative use of materials making this house a mecca for architects and designers internationally. Today it is considered one of the most important postwar residences built anywhere in the world. After the war, the Eames continued to create new furniture designs, such as the Fiberglass Chairs (1950), the famous Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956), the Time Life stool (1960), the 3473 sofa (1964) and the seating for Dulles and O'Hare airports--a design still in use in lounges around the world today. In the 70s they expanded their operations into cinema, producing many beautiful short films. Charles and Ray received honorary degrees and awards from universities and organizations across the country. The Eames Office still operates today.