Niko Kralj

The Museum of Architecture and Design presents the exhibition of the legend and founder of Slovenian industrial design – Niko Kralj. The exhibition will be the first extensive retrospective overview of Kralj's work, design career and role that he played in the development of design in contemporary Slovenia. His archives, sketches, photographs, various prototypes and final products will be displayed from the MAO collection for the first time. The most important among them are Rex armchair, Lupina series, 4455 and modular system furniture Futura, Savinja, Javor and Konstrukta if we list only the most known. For the exhibition the company Impakta Les, d.o.o., has reconstructed the Mosquito chair which was never in the regular production but represents an important chapter in Kralj's research of material and technology.

Niko Kralj is not only a legend of Slovene industrial design, but also its founder. He is one of the most important 20th century industrial designers in the world. His career as a designer is long and apart from several versions of the famous Rex armchair, it encompasses many other chairs, living room sets, wardrobes and furniture programs. Innovative solutions used by Kralj in the design of furniture and other products have contributed to the recognition of Slovene furniture industry and development of the culture of living in Slovenia. They are proof of the designer's vast knowledge and the social aspect of his work. Because of timeless design, many of Kralj's products are considered the classics of world design.

Apart from the planning of products and product programs that have marked the homes and offices in the late 20th century, the broad range of his work includes attempts at rationalizing production and pioneering achievements in the education of designers. He founded and managed Design Institute at the Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture; there he carried out several dozen research projects and contributed to the development of the theory of design. He is the author of over a hundred patents in Slovenia and abroad and a prolific writer of many articles. His work has been honored with many awards.

Niko Kralj: The Unknown Famous Designer
15 December 2011–4 March 2012
Museum of Architecture and Design
Grad Fužine
Pot na Fužine 2
Ljubljana