Back to table of contents of "Accessories"

Alexander Girard

12 January 2017

Cristina Morozzi

by

Alexander Girard is difficult to categorize: his numerous decorative accessories for the Swiss company, Vitra, show the flexibility of his talents. The architect and industrial, graphic, textile, exhibitive and interior designer was born in Florence in 1907 to an Italian father and American mother. His father, Carlo Matteo, was an artist and antique collector, and surely infected his son with his passion for quality manufacturing. Armed with three degrees from Italy, England and America, Alexander began working in architecture in America during the 30’s.

His highly acclaimed style brought him into creative circles, connecting him with the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe, Saul Steinberg, Alexander Calder, Eero Saarinen, George Nelson and Ray and Charles Eames, with whom he began advantageous collaboration in 1940. Girard’s brilliant take on design resonates through his vast repertoire, which spans interior design, paintings, all the way to matchboxes. His multifaceted creations show a colourful, joyful view of the world that were just as appropriate for the period they were produced as today.

WHERE: Klünenfeldstrasse 22 4127 Birsfelden, Switzerland

Alexander Girard is difficult to categorize: his numerous decorative accessories for the Swiss company, Vitra, show the flexibility of his talents. The architect and industrial, graphic, textile, exhibitive and interior designer was born in Florence in 1907 to an Italian father and American mother. His father, Carlo Matteo, was an artist and antique collector, and surely infected his son with his passion for quality manufacturing. Armed with three degrees from Italy, England and America, Alexander began working in architecture in America during the 30’s.

Back to table of contents of "Accessories"

You might also like

Close
Go top

The Moodboarders is a glance into the design world, which, in all of its facets, captures the extraordinary even within the routine. It is a measure of the times. It is an antenna sensitive enough to pick-up on budding trends, emerging talents and neglected aesthetics. Instead of essays, we use brief tales to tune into the rhythm of our world. We travelled for a year without stopping, and seeing as the memory of this journey has not faded, we have chosen to edit a printed copy. We eliminated anything episodic, ephemeral or fading, maintaining a variety of articles that flow, without losing the element of surprise, the events caught taking place, and the creations having just bloomed.