philippe starck creates largest single mould polycarbonate collection for kartell

Jul 22, 2023

philippe starck creates largest single-mould polycarbonate collection for kartellall images courtesy kartell

the 2014 edition of salone del mobile marks an important anniversary for kartell; 15 years of transparency, research and experimentation in injection-molding with transparent polycarbonate in a single mould. since first introducing ‘la marie’ by philippe starck in 1999, the ‘uncle jack’ sofa from 2014 highlights the most outstanding example of this technology: a seating surface measuring 190 cm and weighing 30 kilograms in just one piece of polycarbonate. besides ‘uncle jack’, the range also includes the ‘uncle jim’ armchair, with an elegant high back construction, and the ‘uncle jo’ small armchair in the same material.

‘my family of ‘aunts and uncles’ by kartell is the minimalist and technological version of the armchairs and sofas which my aunts and uncles sat in to smoke a pipe or knit in front of the fire, in total peace and serenity,’ says starck. ‘times have changed and so has furniture… but our dreams remain the same.’

‘uncle jack’ sofa is the world’s largest single-mould polycarbonate sofa

philippe starck speaks on creating the world’s largest single-mould polycarbonate sofa video © designboom

philippe starck during salone del mobile 2014 at kartellimage © designboom

‘uncle jim aunts and uncles’ collection in polycarbonate

‘uncle jim’ chair in polycarbonate

‘uncle jo’ chair in black poly-carbonate