e15 – Ferdinand Kramer – Karnak – Chair – Available in 6 variants
Born in Frankfurt (22 January 1898 – 4 November 1985), Ferdinand Kramer is a modernist architect and designer. In retrospect, Kramer is an outstanding representative of minimalist architectural and design practice. Consistency, functional use, balanced proportions and perfect craftsmanship characterise the furniture from different phases of his life.
In 1925, Ferdinand Kramer worked at the municipal works service in the department for standardisation of types as part of the internationally respected urban planning programme ‘New Frankfurt’ by Ernst May. Some of Ferdinand Kramer’s furniture designs were also shown at the legendary exhibition ‘Die Wohnung’ at the Weissenhof Estate in Stuttgart. Supervised by Mies van der Rohe, it was ground-breaking for the development of modern architecture. Between 1938 – 1952, Ferdinand Kramer lived in exile in New York. Especially his ‘knock-down’ furniture, pioneering modern flat-pack furniture, shows his confrontation with the American Way of Life.
In 1952, Ferdinand Kramer was appointed building director of the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, where he designed the interior of 23 university buildings, also planned and realised by him, and thus lastingly shaped the appearance of Frankfurt’s largest university after the war.
The Ferdinand Kramer® Collection is an exceptional collection of re-editions by the German modernist architect and designer. Working closely with his family and the Kramer archive, e15 showcases twelve iconic designs from the twenties, his time in the American exile and the fifties, when he returned to Frankfurt.
e15 stands for consistent, progressive design coupled with highgrade materials and innovative, handcrafted production methods. As a modern brand that caters to a global home and contract market, e15 maintains a comprehensive approach to interiors. With a strong foundation in architecture and design, e15 is defined by the unique backgrounds of its cofounder and architect Philipp Mainzer together with designer and art director Farah Ebrahimi. In close collaboration with a coterie of designers, architects and artists, e15 develops original products and supports artistic statements, which reflect the brand’s open approach to diverse cultures and disciplines.
Named after the postal code of its first workshop in London, the company was founded in 1995. A radical, new simplicity marked the debut of the collection, leaving an indelible mark for the company and the history of modern design. With essential forms, baring all natural markings and characteristics as visible in design classics such as table BIGFOOT™ and stool BACKENZAHN™, e15 has established a leading reputation for the pioneering use of solid wood in its purest form.
Today, the company holds a worldwide network of premium retailers as well as a flagship showroom in Frankfurt. For the production of the collection, e15 works with specialised workshops mainly in Germany as well as other selected European countries and adheres to environmental acceptability as an integral element of its products.
