Bernhardt Design Introduces
Christian Biecher's Vero Collection

By tapping world-renowned Parisian architect Christian Biecher, Bernhardt Design adds another impressive personality to its dynamic roster of who's who in modern design. With a high-profile client list that includes Issey Miyake, Baccarat, Harvey Nichols, and most recently the award-winning "Attraction" perfume bottle for Lancôme, Biecher unveils his sculptural and geometric collection of lounge seating and tables called Vero. As an architect and designer who is sensitive to the interplay of various artistic disciplines such as art, design, interior layout, and graphics, Biecher has articulated his vision for Vero with clear lines, pure shapes and simple geometry. As a result, the collection received the Editor's Choice award for Best Seating at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York in May 2004.

Throughout the on-going collaboration, Biecher worked with Bernhardt Design to achieve the perfect pared-down aesthetic for Vero that emphasizes shape and proportion. "I wanted to combine the obvious silhouette of a chair with the demands of a sharp design," says Biecher. "Vero is an assemblage of cut out blocks which express comfort, thickness and simplicity, far from any fashionable design gesture. Armrests are purely square, seat and back are rounded, legs are folded as a triangle."

Using straightforward materials such as chrome, brushed nickel, glass, leather, and fabric, Biecher has created a collection of seating and tables that can be used in offices and other public spaces, as well as in private residences. For the seating, the sculptural lounge sofa and club chair are accented by colors that highlight the shapes. Especially with the sofa, a long rectangular pillow calls attention to Biecher's use of both form and space that make his designs so unique and distinctive. The color combinations are bright and powerful, such as fuchsia and black, turquoise and royal blue, yellow and white, and a more subdued pairing of linen and raffia. The different color combinations show the thickness of the seating, while the thin, elegant legs give a lightened effect.

Additionally, the Vero tables are an ideal distillation of Biecher's design oeuvre - simple, elegant and modern. "They work as a memory of a modern table, expressing their function through a clear articulation of components," explains Biecher. The occasional table works seamlessly with the Vero seating with its slender legs made with a solid brushed nickel or chrome frame and a round glass top. The table is available in two heights and widths, making it a natural as a side table or coffee table.

"Biecher is a master at capturing what is truly essential in any design," says Bernhardt Design creative director Jerry Helling. "From his many interior projects to the beautiful shape of Lancôme's 'Attraction,' he brings his French style and his timeless approach to everything he touches. It is a privilege to work with Christian, and we are proud of his contribution to our design portfolio."

From designing furniture and products, to building and construction to architecture and interiors, Biecher's sense of technology and innovation, coupled with a sophisticated sense of material and application, makes him a leader in the industry. His use of both form and space bridges a gap between contemporary architecture and industrial design. French-born Biecher has worked extensively throughout Europe and Asia, and his breadth of work and influence, in both design and architecture, are remarkable.

Christian Biecher's Vero collection is available to the trade at www.bernhardtdesign.com and Bernhardt Design showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

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About Bernhardt Design: Founded in 1980 by the century-old Bernhardt Furniture Company, Bernhardt Design is a leader and innovator in contract furniture design, with design, manufacturing and finishing capabilities that are unparalleled in the industry. The cornerstone for the success of Bernhardt Design is a commitment to distinctive design and value combined with cultivated relationships with top international designers and clientele. In 2001 the company garnered rave reviews for Ross Lovegrove's sinuously organic Go chair made of lightweight magnesium. Bernhardt Design continues to expand its collection of seating, tables, case goods, textiles and accessories in 2004 with introductions from Tyler Brülé, Patrick Norguet, Jeffery Bernett, Philippe Cramer and Bang Design of Australia.