Designed by Richard Bernhard; Artisan, Geoffrey Warner
Richard Bernhard
Bernhard & Priestly Architecture, Inc.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Designed by Richard Bernhard | Designed by Richard Bernhard | Original Napkin Sketch | Revised Napkin Sketch |
Richard Bernhard
Architect's Statement
For my piece of furniture, I wanted something that I could use in my own house, which my firm had designed a few years earlier. The piece was to suggest both Craftsman and Asian influences, thereby fitting into the style of the house. As is the method of my office, the design was a collaborative affair. I developed the schematic—the function, image and materials—and others in the office provided critical review, refinements, and additional ideas. In particular, Bob Delsandro, whose background includes a great deal of interior work, took the design into design development (refinement) and added the “kekkai” (a small wooden fencelike partition that separates inner areas in rooms of Japanese houses) to the rear of the table. I was adamant about the arc shape of the tabletop—as homage to the logo of Cranbrook, the Michigan educational institution designed by Eliel Saarinen where I became intrigued with architecture.
I had worked with Geoff Warner before on furniture for private residences, so the architect/craftsperson collaboration was easy and familiar. I found the design process similar to designing a building, except that the small scale of furniture (relative to a building) meant that one looks down towards the piece rather than looking up to a building.
Geoff studied furniture design at the Rhode Island School of Design under the Danish master and teacher Tage Frid. He was taught to design with practicality, build with integrity and work with efficiency, but most importantly, not to compromise beauty. He employs traditional joinery techniques.
Geoff’s early work drew from Arts and Crafts, Japanese, Danish and Art Nouveau influences. He regards his work as functional sculpture, where nature can be a strong influence. Interplay between curved and straight lines and negative and positive spaces are frequently incorporated. Geoff strives to engage the senses while interacting with furniture—the aroma of different woods, and the touch of a wooden surface. In the case of this design, he suggested wedged tenons to create rhythm and to indicate how the piece was constructed.
I enjoyed the entire experience: the collaboration of architects, working with a skilled craftsperson, the anticipation of the piece, and the prospect of living with something I helped to create.
Richard Bernhard
Geoffrey Warner
Geoff Warner Studios
Stonington, Maine
Having passed through many design phases and completing hundreds of pieces, I have mastered a high level of skill in conceptualizing and solving design problems. My early work drew from arts and crafts, Japanese, Danish and Art Nouveau influences. Today I look at my work as functional sculpture, where nature can be a strong influence. Interplay between curved and straight lines and negative and positive spaces are frequently incorporated. I like to engage people's senses while they interact with my furniture. The inside of a jewelry cabinet may be built with Spanish cedar for its wonderful aroma, the edge of a table top, or the surface of a pull carved to engage the sense of touch. Exposed dovetails or wedged tenons can be applied to create rhythm and to educate one on how a piece of furniture is constructed. A beautiful highly figured or colorful board can be enough to carry success into a commission, which, having been designed with simplicity, allows the reverence of the wood to speak on its own without distraction.
Artisan’s Statement
Working with Richard Bernhard was very easy. He supplied us with clear scale plans .We then tweaked a few measurements so they would work with dimensional lumber and revised some of the details for aesthetic , technical and budgetary reasons. The result is a piece of furniture that is predominantly Richards design featuring details that reflect some of my own sensibilities. I enjoyed the collaborative effort.
Geoff Warner