Anne and Gary in Bre's Workshop. Photo by: Bre Pettis

Filson & Rohrbacher

Anne Filson (American, b. 1969) and Gary Rohrbacher (American, b. 1964) Anne Filson and Gary Rohrbacher are architects who decided furniture should travel as files: their studio, founded in 2009, created AtFAB — open-source CNC furniture anyone could download and cut. I was a superfan in the early 2010s when they were at every Maker Faire cutting AtFAB pieces, and when I built out the MakerBot offices at 1 MetroTech in Brooklyn I hired them to make all the furniture — a herculean task, and that furniture is so elegant and timeless. They bring a depth and thoughtfulness to their work that goes so deep. Filson worked at OMA and IDEO, Rohrbacher at Machado and Silvetti and SOM; both teach at the University of Kentucky, France's CNAP acquired their 5 to 30 Minute Chair in 2013, and they wrote the book on the practice — Design for CNC. Their Toolpath Panels turn parametric CNC toolpaths into carved wood reliefs, many in reclaimed hardwood, and pen-plotted drawings made from the same machine instructions.

Artist's website (filson-rohrbacher.com) ↗

7 physical works