Amidst the dynamic energy of Brera during Salone del Mobile, Walter Knoll’s temporary showroom stands out as a spatial exploration of design. Aptly named Threads of Creation, the installation transforms Via Palermo into a tactile, architectural journey. Designed by Stuttgart-based Ippolito Fleitz Group, the exhibition blurs the boundaries between furniture and space. Oversized bands, ribbons and cords in soft hues drape across the two-storey installation — acting as sculptural elements and symbolic room dividers of the creative process.
Did you know that in 1993, Hilde and Rolf Benz — yes, of the Rolf Benz brand — acquired Walter Knoll, merging two pillars of German furniture design? Today, their granddaughter Mara Benz leads the third generation into the brand’s future. Since 1865, Walter Knoll remains committed to craftsmanship. From the first sketch to the final form, its foundation lies in the quality of leather, fabric and wood. That legacy continues today — with new layers.
Take the new Legends of Carpets collection, for example. Designed by Helmut Scheufele and inspired by African landscapes and colours, these hand-knotted carpets feel more like tactile paintings. Hanging them — rather than placing them underfoot — reveals their full visual power. In the catalogue, you can see Scheufele’s original inspiration images alongside the creative edit behind each design.
This year, Walter Knoll introduces a new chapter with its first outdoor collection. While only subtly referenced within the presentation, it marks an exciting extension of the brand’s design language — bridging indoors and out with the same attention to material, style and form.
The red thread — both metaphorical and literal — is everywhere. Threads of Creation ties together past and future, indoor and outdoor worlds, all with craftsmanship at its core. The trimmings? Made from recycled cotton and bio-based viscose in collaboration with heritage producer Gustav Gerster. Designed to travel and transform, this installation might just reappear in the next Walter Knoll showroom.
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All images by the author.
