Ron Arad

Ron Arad:

Born of artist parents in Israel, Ron Arad (1951-) continues to be one of the most influential architects and designers of modern times. He graduated from Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Israel and moved to London to study architecture at the Architectural Association in 1973. After graduation, he worked briefly in an architectural firm and then in 1981, established his own firm with partner Caroline Thorman.

Initially, he was drawn towards designing furniture with gritty, urban, and raw styles, each unique work of art. They would show rough weld joints, parts of cars, broken concrete, and frankly speaking, I’m not too thrilled by them. His work evolved, and by mid eighties, he began designing his famous volumetric designs of furniture and Well-Tempered Chair. His contemporary design includes natural shapes from snakes, and high tech components by which some of his furniture could be connected via Bluetooth and display text messages from phones. Arad’s designs exudes in idiosyncrasy, playfulness, pleasure and humor and at the same time extreme technical skills and exclusiveness.

His architectural works have been innovative with free flowing forms, continuous ribbons that can go for miles of length, and vibrant with bright color composition. My favorite is his design of the Mediacite Mall Façade, interior and Piazzas in Liege, Belgium. With futuristic curvaceous lines, and glass ohttp://www.archimodes.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Mediacite-by-Ron-Arad-Architects-588x425.jpgpening, it seems in harmony with nature as well. The interior roof structure shows elongated expanding flower pattern that is at the same time otherworldly and timeless. The play of natural light and color sheetmetal/glass renders a dazzling display to the eye of the mind and heart. (http://designlike.com/2011/03/08/amazing-mall-architecture-mediacite-by-ron-arad-architecture/)  

Ron Arad has held the prestigious position as Professor of Product Design at the Royal College of Art, London. Among his many famous design awards, the Conde Nast Traveller Award for designing the Museum of Holon stand out, which has his breathtaking continuous two hundred miles long ribbons in full display, carving out beautiful shapes and shades of color in space (http://www.arcspace.com/architects/arad-ron/holon/holon.html).