Monday, March 19, 2012

Verner Panton: Der Spiegel HQ and iconic canteen, Hamburg



Photo: Dennis Conrad via Stylepark


This picture is quite a sad one, as it was taken in October 2011 during the break down of the Spiegel Canteen. I can't believe I never took the time to go to Hamburg to have lunch (and a psychedelic experience) there...
Verner Panton designed what is probably his most famous interior in 1969 for the new buildings of the Spiegel Publishing Group in Hamburg. How could people work when they had access to the coolest swimming pool (destroyed early by a fire, unfortunately), a canteen that makes you feel like you're tripping on LSD, and a snack-bar featuring the best of Verner Panton's designs? I understand why the employees liked to keep their office doors open!

"Panton designed the entrance area with courtyard and lobby, the canteen and the bar areas, the swimming pool for the employees in the basement of the building, the rooms for the editorial conferences and the lounges, as well as the colour schemes for the hallways of the administration or editorial highrise buildings. All designs were his own - lamps, textiles and wall claddings, only the furniture had to be ordered from Knoll International according to his contracts." (Verner Panton)

In 42 years of existence, only the canteen and the snack-bar remained in the original version. When the German news magazine moved house last fall, some of Panton's work moved as well in the new canteen. But most of it has been donated to the Museum of Arts and Crafts Hamburg, so from Summer 2012, it will be possible to visit the canteen as a room installation. It's not like seeing Panton's designs in the original context, but I'm sure it's worth a visit if you like the work of this master of modern design!

Via Domus


photo: Noshe/Der Spiegel via Stylepark


Via Smow


Via Smow

3 comments:

  1. Very cool style!

    http://pcigarette.blogspot.fr/

    ReplyDelete
  2. great blog with the greatest panton designs

    http://great-and-old.blogspot.ch

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Panton is always a great source of inspiration!

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