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Ron Arad
רון ארד
Ron Arad 2017.jpg
Arad in 2017
Born (1951-04-24) 24 April 1951 (age 74)
Nationality British-Israeli
Occupation industrial designer, artist, and architectural designer
DMH by Asa Bruno
Design Museum Holon at 2010 opening in Holon, Israel

Ron Arad (born April 24, 1951) is a famous British-Israeli industrial designer, artist, and architectural designer. He is known for his unique and often playful designs, which include furniture, buildings, and art installations. His work often uses interesting materials and shapes.

Early Life and Education

Ron Arad - The Big Easy chair in chrome steel
The Big Easy Chair, made of chrome
Maxistuhl Well Tempered Chair von Ron Arad in Weil am Rhein-Altweil, Lörracher Str. 4
Well Tempered Chair
Ngv design, ron arad, tom vac chair, 1997
Tom Vac chair (1997)
Windwand by Ron Arad
Windwand (Carbon fibre, 2000) by Ron Arad, in London

Ron Arad was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He studied art and design at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem from 1971 to 1973. Later, he moved to London and studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture from 1974 to 1979.

Career Highlights

Ron Arad started his own design and production studio called One Off in 1981. He later formed Ron Arad Associates in 1989, which focuses on architecture and design. In 2008, Ron Arad Architects was also created.

Famous Designs

Arad's career took off with his unique Rover chair. This chair was made from a leather seat taken from a Rover P6 car, placed on a steel frame. He loves to experiment with different materials and new technologies. He also likes to rethink how everyday objects look and are built.

One of his well-known designs is the Bookworm bookshelf. He designed it in 1994, and it is still made today by the Italian company Kartell. In 2005, he designed special chandeliers for the Swarovski crystal company. These chandeliers could show text messages using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). He also created tables that seem to climb walls instead of sitting in the middle of a room. Many of Arad's designs have smooth, natural shapes and are often made from steel.

In 2008–2009, Arad worked with the fashion brand KENZO. He designed his first perfume bottle for them, which was shown in his exhibit called No Discipline. In 2010, he also started designing an eyewear collection with New Eye London.

Architectural Projects

Ron Arad's architectural firm has completed many impressive projects. These include the Maserati Showroom in Modena, Italy (2002), and the Yohji Yamamoto Flagship Store in Tokyo, Japan (2003).

He also designed the Design Museum Holon in Holon, Israel, which opened in 2010. Another big project was the Mediacite retail center in Liège, Belgium. His firm has also worked on a large office building in Tel Aviv and a new Cancer Hospital in northern Israel.

In 2012, Arad created an art installation called “720 Degrees” at the Israel Museum. It was made of 5,600 silicone cords that formed a large circle. Visitors could stand inside or outside the circle to watch projected images.

He designed the ToHA office complex in Tel Aviv. The first part of this project was finished in 2019. The second part, which is still being developed, will be one of the tallest skyscrapers in Israel.

In 2017, Ron Arad won a competition to design the UK Holocaust Memorial. He was part of a team that included other famous architects and landscape designers.

Awards and Recognition

Ron Arad has received many awards for his work. He was named a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) in 2002. In 2011, he won the London Design Medal. He also holds an Honorary Doctorate from Tel Aviv University.

He taught design at the Hochschule in Vienna from 1994 to 1997. Later, he became a Professor of Design Products at the Royal College of Art in London. He held this position until 2009, when he became a Professor Emeritus. In 2013, he was chosen as a Royal Academician by the Royal Academy of Art in London.

His designs are displayed in major museums around the world. These include the MoMA in New York City, the V&A in London, and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. He has also worked with many international furniture, fashion, technology, and luxury brands.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ron Arad (diseñador industrial) para niños

  • Visual arts in Israel
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