Within the many designers that contributed to the mid-century modern design success, Charles and ray Eames had a special place for sure. They designed almost all kind of objects possible, but within all of them the ESU(Eames Storage Unit) is for sure one of the most popular. The Eameses designed the ESU -in the 1949 for Herman Miller- to be a flexible and innovative piece of furniture: the first combinable furniture available in many variations and materials.
Its structure was made up with vertical and horizontal elements. First the fixed vertical supports -in different lengths- that made the L-section steel bars. Then, horizontal shelves in lacquered plywood and finally vertical panels forming backs and sliding doors in several materials including embossed plywood, perforated metal and Masonite.
All those parts could be ordered in different finishes and colours, including sliding doors, open-back wire, X-frame braces and drawer systems. The end result is a piece of furniture personalized and customized made of mass-produced elements assembled basing on the customer's needs.
Herman Miller manufactured the ESU between the 1950 and 1955 and from 1998 again. Unfortunately -despite the mass-producibilty and flexibility of the single parts- the ESU never achieved the commercial success of other Eameses' products. Probably that time's customers were still attached to the old handmade furniture style and they were not ready for a revolutionary product like the ESU.
The importance of the Charles and Ray Eamse ESU storage was to become an example and a trend for the storage units manufacturing and design from that moment up to today. It best represented the Eameses philosophy in terms of solving interior decor problems in an innovative and functional way and remembers other classic Eames projects like the Wire Chair and the Wire-base Tables. Please read further to discover how mid century modern design influenced the contemporary design and furniture manufacturing.
Its structure was made up with vertical and horizontal elements. First the fixed vertical supports -in different lengths- that made the L-section steel bars. Then, horizontal shelves in lacquered plywood and finally vertical panels forming backs and sliding doors in several materials including embossed plywood, perforated metal and Masonite.
All those parts could be ordered in different finishes and colours, including sliding doors, open-back wire, X-frame braces and drawer systems. The end result is a piece of furniture personalized and customized made of mass-produced elements assembled basing on the customer's needs.
Herman Miller manufactured the ESU between the 1950 and 1955 and from 1998 again. Unfortunately -despite the mass-producibilty and flexibility of the single parts- the ESU never achieved the commercial success of other Eameses' products. Probably that time's customers were still attached to the old handmade furniture style and they were not ready for a revolutionary product like the ESU.
The importance of the Charles and Ray Eamse ESU storage was to become an example and a trend for the storage units manufacturing and design from that moment up to today. It best represented the Eameses philosophy in terms of solving interior decor problems in an innovative and functional way and remembers other classic Eames projects like the Wire Chair and the Wire-base Tables. Please read further to discover how mid century modern design influenced the contemporary design and furniture manufacturing.
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