What is "wilkhahn"

Wilkhahn (Wilkening + Hahne GmbH+Co.KG), based in Bad Münder, near Hannover, is a German manufacturer of office furniture. The brand is well known for its range of ergonomic office chairs and tables. Founded in 1907 by Friedrich Hahne and Christian Wilkening. The name of the two founders was later used to create the name Wilk-hahn in 1954.

The sons of the founders, Fritz Hahne and Adolf Wilkening took over the reins of the company after the World War II and continued to make wooden chairs and furniture until the mid-1950s. The introduction of new materials such as steel, fibreglass, and newer fabrics for upholstery, and the early development of plastic enabled Wilkhahn to transform the business from a highly manual craft to a modern industrial production company with international operations. As a result, the modern chair evolved, with notable releases as the FS Line, Picto, Modus, A-line and ON.

Wilkhahn is also known for the architecture of its production sites, the pavilions in wood-hanging construction by Frei Otto, already famous for his work on Munich’s Olympic Stadium, and the production halls by architect Thomas Herzog.