Form Follows Function: Celebrating 10 Years of the American Institute of Architects, Houston Design Collection at the MFAH November 11, 2010–January 30, 2011
Josef Hoffmann, Sitzmaschine, Model 670, designed c. 1905, made c. 1908, beech and metal.
Aldo Rossi, Tea and Coffee Piazza, designed 1979–83, made 1985, sterling silver, glass, brass, enamel, fabric, and quartz.
Gerrit Rietveld, “Zig-Zag” Chair, designed 1932, made c. 1940, pine. The American Institute of Architects, Houston Design Collection, gift of friends of Anderson Todd and S. I. Morris in their honor, with additional funds provided by the Decorative Arts Endowment.
Norman Bel Geddes, manufactured by Revere Copper and Brass Co., “Manhattan” Cocktail Set, designed 1934, chrome-plated brass, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the American Institute of Architects, Houston Design Collection, Museum purchase funded by the American Institute of Architects, Houston; Glassman Shoemake Maldonado Architects; Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc.; Watkins Hamilton Ross Architects; Kirksey & Partners Architects; Powers Brown Architecture; Rey de la Reza; Lonnie Hoogeboom, AIA; Heights Venture Architects, LLP; Martha Murphree, Hon. AIA; Chris Hudson; Griesenbeck Architectural Products, Inc.; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Searight; Martha Seng; John Hawkins; Dan Brents; Pam Vassallos; Palmer and Merry Schooley; and an anonymous donor.
Peter Behrens, “Speisezimmer” Chair, 1902, oak and cane, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the American Institute of Architects, Houston Design Collection, Museum purchase funded by friends of Willie Pena and Preston Bolton, in their honor.
In 2000, the MFAH and the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects launched a partnership with dual goals: build a world-class collection of objects designed by architects and educate the public about the role architects play in design history beyond their buildings.
This collaboration—the only one of its kind in the United States—resulted in the American Institute of Architects Design Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The collection has grown to include more than 25 objects.
Form Follows Function celebrates the first 10 years of the partnership by displaying highlights from the collection. The presentation showcases works by renowned international architects such as Gae Aulenti, Peter Behrens, Marcel Breuer, Frank Gehry, Josef Hoffmann, Gerrit Rietveld, Aldo Rossi, Eliel Saarinen, and Louis Sullivan.
This exhibition is organized by the MFAH.
Generous funding is provided by:
Kendall/Heaton Associates
Glassman Shoemake Maldonado Architects
Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn L. Wolff