VERNER PANTON Verner Panton is one of the most influential and innovative designers of the second half of the 20th century. He was born in Gamtofte, Denmark, and studied at the Odense Technical College before enrolling in the Royal Danish Academy of Art in Copenhagen as an architecture student. From 1950-52, he worked in the office of Arne Jacobsen, and was notably involved in the design of the legendary Ant chair. He then went on to work as an independent architect and designer in several European countries. His furniture designs, inspired by geometric forms and manufactured by the firm Plus-linje (Boxes Series) won him international acclaim. His creations reflect a flamboyant sense of shape and a keen interest in the new synthetic materials that were manufactured industrially at the time and contrasted with traditional Scandinavian design. Over the following years, Verner Panton collaborated with leading designers such Fritz Hansen, Louis Poulsen, Thonet, Herman Miller, Vitra and Luber, creating several designs for seating furniture and lamps, some of which are still in production. His best-sellers include the “Flowerpot” lamp and design icons like the Panton chair, which was an instant international hit when it was presented to the public in 1967 after a long and intensive development process. Panton was also an exceptional textiles designer. From the late 60s onwards, he designed an extensive collection of home fabrics for the company Mira-X in which he exhibits his preference for bold colors and geometric shapes. Panton also created remarkable interiors. His comprehensive design philosophy was already apparent in the interior designs for the restaurants Komigen (Langsö, 1958) and Astoria (Trondheim, 1960). He was brilliantly skillful at combining floors, walls and ceilings with furniture, lighting, textiles and enamel or synthetic wall panels to create a consummate and indivisible spatial unity. The Visiona Ships for the International Cologne Furniture Fair (1968 and 1970), the offices of publishers Der Spiegel in Hamburg (1969) and the restaurant Varna in Aarhus (1970) are some of the best know examples of his interiors. Verner Panton lived in Basel from the beginning of the sixties. He remained passionate about new experiences until his death in September 1998 and received many international design awards. Re-editions of Panton’s works and an exhibition he designed himself in the Danish city of Kolding, illustrate renewed interest in his work, culminating, in January 2000, in a retrospective exhibition of Panton’s creations at the Vitra Design Museum. .