Australian board sports heritage brand, Globe, has released a Limited-Edition Lounge Skateboard in collaboration with the Eames Office. Based on the iconic Lounge Chair and Ottoman designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, a strictly limited 56 units will be available through select international retailers as of April 16.
From the founding of the Eames Office, their studio in Venice California, Charles and Ray Eames pioneered the very technology that brought skateboards to life – moulded plywood. In the 1940s, the designer couple developed innovative plywood moulding techniques that led them to create experimental plywood sculptures, airplane parts, leg splints, and most importantly, some of the most iconic furniture designs of the 20th Century.
With the Eames' signature attention to details and connections, their 1956 Lounge Chair and Ottoman was designed with one overarching goal: to provide maximum comfort and a luxurious experience that combines modern cool with the qualities of a traditional English club chair. The design is a balanced composition of plywood shells in fine veneers, soft buttoned leather cushions, die-cast aluminium bases and rubber shock-mounts; and each element is as beautiful and functional as the ensemble.
Sharing a similar appreciation for craftsmanship, details, and “taking your pleasure seriously”, Globe and Eames Office are proud to continue their collaboration with the ultimate mid-century modern skateboard.
The Limited Edition Lounge Skateboard unites furniture design and skateboarding by blending the work of Charles and Ray Eames with skate culture. Every inch of this skateboard pays homage to their iconic Lounge Chair and Ottoman and its unparalleled design legacy. Meticulously crafted from furniture-grade materials, and with exceptional details, this limited-edition board honors the Eames' pioneering spirit and propels it into the realm of skateboarding as we know it today.
In homage to the Lounge and Ottoman’s plywood shells, carefully selected Palisander veneers are used for the outer layers of the skateboard deck, and its edges are bevelled flat just like in the Eames’ furniture design. Impeccably matched to the material used for the Lounge Chair’s cushions, black full-grain leather is inset into the veneer on the top, while on the underside custom hardware is mounted with CNC-milled aluminium slide rails mirroring the chair’s backrest spacers.
The Limited Edition Lounge Skateboard comes in a plywood crate printed with an original drawing from the Eames Office. The skateboard further includes its own presentation stand and a certificate of authenticity signed by the Director of the Eames Office and one of Globe’s founders.
About Eames Office
Charles and Ray Eames founded their Los Angeles-based design practice Eames Office in 1941, producing significant contributions to the various mediums of architecture, furniture design, film, textiles, toys, exhibitions, and beyond. Through their work and its ongoing impact, the Eames Office reconceived the concept of a design studio in terms of philosophy, work ethic, and process. Since Charles’ passing in 1978 and Ray's passing in 1988, the Eames Office has continued its mission as led by the next generations of the Eames family.
Today, the Eames Office remains dedicated to communicating, preserving, and extending the work of Charles and Ray Eames as a manifestation of one broad, all-encompassing goal: enriching and positively impacting people's lives and environments. The Eames Office believes that as beautiful as the objects are, the ideas behind them are just as beautiful–and essential to share. To carry out its mission, Eames Office works closely with authorized manufacturers to introduce their designs to new generations through educational programs, curated exhibitions and brand collaborations.
About Globe
After 10 years of design, production and distribution of third party brands in Australia with Hardcore Enterprises, the Hills created a global boardsports brand of their own, first with shoes for skaters and surfers in the mid 1990s and then with apparel and hardgoods for the broader market. Today, Globe is one of the leading premium skateboard brands in the industry, known for the quality and innovation in its products.
Lifestyle photography: Dan Preston
Studio photography: Albert Comper
Additional lifestyle photography: Globe Brand
Archival photography: Eames Office