Willy Guhl (1915 to 2004) was a pioneering Swiss industrial designer best known for his innovative use of fibre-cement in modern furniture and planters. Educated at the Zurich School of Applied Arts, Guhl opened his own design studio in 1939 and soon began collaborating with the Swiss company Eternit, exploring the possibilities of moulded cement for lightweight, weather-resistant forms. In 1954 he created the iconic Loop Chair, a single ribbon of curved fibre-cement that became a symbol of post-war modernism for both indoor and outdoor use. Guhl’s designs emphasised simplicity, ergonomics, and the honest expression of material, reflecting the functionalist ideals of Swiss design. As a long-time educator at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich, he mentored a generation of designers while continuing to develop planters, benches, and seating that balanced industrial production with sculptural elegance. Today, Willy Guhl’s work remains celebrated for its durability, minimalist beauty, and lasting influence on contemporary outdoor furniture design.
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