The Knoll 1966 Outdoor Furniture Collection by Richard Schultz is now available to explore on our website, and it’s a collection we’ve long been drawn to for its honesty, restraint, and enduring relevance. It feels as contemporary today as it did at its introduction a rare quality in outdoor design.

Widely regarded as one of the first true modern outdoor furniture collections, the 1966 series marked a shift away from decorative, historically referential garden furniture towards something more architectural. It established a new benchmark for outdoor living one grounded in material honesty and long-term use, rather than ornament or styling.

Originally commissioned by Florence Knoll, the brief was highly specific: to create outdoor furniture capable of withstanding the demanding coastal conditions of Florida. Sun, salt, and humidity were not secondary considerations, but the starting point. What Schultz developed in response was a collection defined by clarity and purpose, where every element is driven by performance.

Materials such as aluminium, stainless steel, and weather-resistant mesh were chosen for their durability and resistance to corrosion. The forms were stripped back to their essential structure, removing anything unnecessary. The result is a design language that feels quiet but highly resolved functional, but never crude.

Schultz has described how the project began in 1962, after Florence Knoll moved to Florida and asked him to develop outdoor furniture that would not rust or deteriorate. Early experimentation included sling attachments, padding systems, and detailing around tabletops, before evolving into concealed connectors that gave the pieces their clean, understated appearance. By 1963, the programme had been approved, and Schultz began the careful process of developing cast components and refining construction details. Working with a small team, each decision was considered in depth a process that ultimately contributed to the collection’s longevity and visual clarity.

When it was introduced in 1966, the collection stood apart from much of what existed in outdoor furniture at the time. Rather than referencing traditional decorative styles, Schultz offered something entirely different: simple geometry, exposed material integrity, and a modernist approach that felt direct and refreshing.

As Schultz himself reflected, it was “a breath of fresh air” for those seeking a more honest expression of outdoor design.

Today, the Knoll 1966 Outdoor Collection remains a reference point in modern design. It continues to resonate not only for its historical significance, but for its ongoing relevance a collection that still feels right in the way it performs, ages, and quietly sits within a space.

Shop the Knoll 1966 collection.