Segmented, the imposing office table designed by Charles and Ray Eames
By Athina
This week’s design icon is a great classic of office furniture; a piece of furniture that, if it could speak, would tell stories of heated meetings, murky corporate secrets, and who knows what else…
It is the impressive “Segmented” conference table designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller in 1964.
The Eames couple certainly needs no introduction; they were key figures of the modernist era, and their work remains an endless source of inspiration for generations of young designers.
Who doesn’t know their timeless (and often copied) Fiberglass Chairs?
Or the beautiful and elegant Eames Lounge Chair & Ottoman, part of the permanent collection at MoMA?
Throughout their career, the Eameses collaborated with the major design companies of the 20th century. Among them, Herman Miller, one of the most renowned internationally. Founded over a century ago in Michigan by D. J. De Pree, this family business initially (like many others) created reproductions of 18th and 19th-century European furniture. By betting on emerging designers and taking significant risks, it became the first American company to create and sell modern furniture aimed at the general public.
The partnership between Eames and Herman Miller, which began in the late 1940s, was long-lasting and successful (including the creation of our “Segmented” conference table).
“The role of the designer is comparable to that of a kind and attentive host who anticipates the needs of his guests,” said the brilliant designer.
This commitment translated into a clean aesthetic, a search for practicality, and also (something not to be taken for granted) an effort to make his products as affordable as possible.
The “Segmented” line, produced by both Vitra and Herman Miller, fully respects Eames’ intent. Designed for the office, these simple yet refined tables are extremely versatile. They come with tabletops in various sizes, shapes, and materials (teak, walnut, rosewood, marble, etc.).
The table can be extended potentially infinitely thanks to the unique base design by Eames. Using a system of metal and aluminum “connectors” that support the tabletop and can be removed or added as needed. This allows the table to be lengthened or shortened depending on requirements, hence the name “Segmented”.
This new system considerably reduced production costs, resulting in lower prices for the public.
CEOs and executives worldwide have chosen (and continue to choose!) the Segmented table for their boardrooms.
A table perfect for a work environment of a certain importance where one wants to add a solemn and majestic style without sacrificing practicality.
