postcity magazine | andrew bockner

Andrew Bockner never dreamed that one day he would be working with some of the largest hotel chains around the globe, but now this Thornhill Secondary School graduate is one of the biggest names in furniture design with his own firm, Andrew Richard Designs. Bockner graduated from Touro Law School and practised for three years before jumping into design. “I remember going to my boss’s office. I was about 26, and I said, ‘You know what, I’m an artist, and I can no longer sit in this office and look at these yellow files. I’m done.’” Bockner said he gave his three- months notice and then took a trip to Southeast Asia. While away, he started dreaming about concepts for “creating the ultimate outdoor living space.” Bockner focuses on creating comfortable and relaxing pieces for everyday enjoyment and living. Bockner’s big break came in October 2002, when he was at a hotel and restaurant show in New York. “I took a 10-by-10 booth in the basement. All the big companies were upstairs. I basically had no chance,” he said. He met a man from Tahiti, who was working on the Sofitel, the Radisson and the InterContinental hotels and who needed furniture for all three. Bockner took a chance and started sending him designs. “My first order ever was the largest I’ve ever received,” he said. Since then, Bockner has worked on many major projects, including the Rogers Cup for the past 11 years and TIFF for 10 years. He expanded the business at Adelaide and Parliament to include furniture retail, an event business and Struck Contemporary, a pop art gallery. The gallery features works from Warhol, Lichtenstein and Rauschenberg, as well as new, leading edge graffiti and street artists. “I’m excited about taking the opportunity to show Toronto some of the amazing artists that are sort of up and coming in the North America and around the world,” said Bockner. Bockner said one of the projects he’s most proud of is at the Turnberry Isle Miami resort, where his pieces have held up against 12 years of use in a busy environment. The future holds many projects for the designer, including an outdoor amenity space for Fallsview Casino and a large scale outdoor hospitality project downtown with a well-known developer. The project will involve an exciting rooftop space. “This is going to blow people away,” he said. Bockner didn’t reveal any other details but said he’s very excited about it. “I love what I do. I think that’s so important. I love enriching the lives of others, and if I can create opportunities for people to enjoy their friends and their family and their lifestyle and their home any more, then that’s what drives me,” he said. Bockner has furnished some of the world’s largest hotel chains The art of furniture Andrew Bockner on interior design and opening an art gallery by Kelsey Rambaran REPORT CARD STUDENT: Andrew Bockner GRADUATED: Thornhill Secondary, 1992 BEST SUBJECTS: Dramatic Arts and Geography WORST SUBJECT: Math CURRENT JOB: Principal Designer and Creative Director for ARD “ I can no longer sit in this office and look at these yellow files.” LOCAL GRADUATES LIFE

Upload: anonymous-8x6rcmpkay

Post on 13-Apr-2016

219 views

Category:

Documents

0 download

Report

Download

Embed Size (px):

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Postcity Magazine | Andrew Bockner

Law School and practised for threeyears before jumping into design.“I remember going to my boss’s

office. I was about 26, and I said,‘You know what, I’m an artist, andI can no longer sit in this office andlook at these yellow files. I’mdone.’”

Bockner said he gave his three-months notice and then took a tripto Southeast Asia. While away, hestarted dreaming about conceptsfor “creating the ultimate outdoorliving space.”Bockner focuses on creating

comfortable and relaxing pieces foreveryday enjoyment and living.Bockner’s big break came in

October 2002, when he was at ahotel and restaurant show in NewYork. “I took a 10-by-10 booth in the

basement. All the big companieswere upstairs. I basically had nochance,” he said.He met a man from Tahiti, who

was working on the Sofitel, theRadisson and the InterContinentalhotels and who needed furniturefor all three. Bockner took a chance

and started sending him designs.“My first order ever was the

largest I’ve ever received,” he said.Since then, Bockner has worked

on many major projects, includingthe Rogers Cup for the past 11years and TIFF for 10 years. Heexpanded the business at Adelaideand Parliament to include furnitureretail, an event business and StruckContemporary, a pop art gallery.The gallery features works fromWarhol, Lichtenstein andRauschenberg, as well as new,leading edge graffiti and streetartists.“I’m excited about taking the

opportunity to show Toronto someof the amazing artists that are sortof up and coming in the NorthAmerica and around the world,”said Bockner.Bockner said one of the projects

he’s most proud of is at theTurnberry Isle Miami resort, wherehis pieces have held up against 12years of use in a busy environment.The future holds many projects

for the designer, including anoutdoor amenity space forFallsview Casino and a large scaleoutdoor hospitality projectdowntown with a well-knowndeveloper. The project will involvean exciting rooftop space.“This is going to blow people

away,” he said.Bockner didn’t reveal any other

details but said he’s very excitedabout it.“I love what I do. I think that’s

so important. I love enriching thelives of others, and if I can createopportunities for people to enjoytheir friends and their family andtheir lifestyle and their home anymore, then that’s what drives me,”he said.

Bockner has furnished some of theworld’s largest hotel chains

The art of furnitureAndrew Bockner on interior design andopening an art gallery by Kelsey Rambaran

REPORT CARD STUDENT:

Andrew BocknerGRADUATED:

Thornhill Secondary, 1992BEST SUBJECTS:

Dramatic Arts and Geography

WORST SUBJECT:

Math

CURRENT JOB:

Principal Designer andCreative Director for ARD

“I can no longersit in this officeand look at theseyellow files.”

LOCAL GRADUATESLIFE