60 Years of Design Excellence Meets 20 Years of Design Post Cologne
Design Post Cologne celebrates two decades as a European design destination with ICONIC PIECES - Design Post Celebrates 20 Years of Design History: a curated anniversary exhibition that traces the evolution of European design culture across approximately 400 m² and four thematic spaces.
Among the defining works on view is David Rowland’s 40/4 - HOWE’s iconic stacking chair that has shaped the conversation around efficient, enduring design for 60 years.
A Design That Rewrote the Rules
When David Rowland introduced the 40/4 in 1964, he didn’t create “just another stacking chair.” He set a benchmark that still stands.
The idea is famously simple - and brilliantly executed: 40 chairs stack within 4 feet. That compact efficiency, paired with a refined steel rod frame and a quietly confident silhouette, made the 40/4 an instant reference point for architects and specifiers worldwide.
The chair’s legacy is backed by design history: the 40/4 received the Grand Prix at the 13th Milan Triennale and is part of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection.
More than 8 million units later, the 40/4 remains in continuous production - proof that when form and function are truly resolved, a design doesn’t age. It endures.
Context Matters: Four Curated Spaces
ICONIC PIECES positions objects within the broader story of European design - past, present, and what comes next - through four curated themes:
Icons of Design History
A space for the classics that fundamentally shaped the way we live and work - where the 40/4 belongs.
Material & Craftsmanship
A focus on European expertise in materials and making, from wood and metal to textiles and surfaces.
Innovation & Avantgarde
A forward-facing gallery of contemporary experimentation - designers and manufacturers pushing boundaries.
Light & Atmosphere
Lighting as spatial material, shaping mood, architecture, and experience.
Why This Matters Now
As Design Post General Manager Nataša Marquardt notes, Design Post has long been “a place of exchange… between brands, architects, designers and the public.” ICONIC PIECES reflects that spirit: it’s not a product showcase, but a curated examination of how European design thinking has evolved - where responsibility, materials, and sustainability are increasingly central.
In that context, the 40/4 makes a compelling case for longevity as a design principle. A chair designed once, manufactured continuously for decades, and still specified today is more than a classic - it’s a lesson in doing more with less, for longer.
Exhibition details
- ICONIC PIECES - Design Post Celebrates 20 Years of Design History
- Design Post Cologne (historic postal building), Cologne-Deutz
- On view from 17 January to 31 March 2026, including during Passagen & imm cologne 2026.
34 brands. 400 m². Six decades of the 40/4 in dialogue with 20 years of Design Post Cologne. We look forward to welcoming you in Cologne. For current opening times and event updates, please check Design Post Cologne’s official channels.
