Kho Liang Ie

Kho Liang Ie was a visionary Dutch designer of Indonesian-Chinese heritage who played a crucial role in shaping post-war modern design in the Netherlands. Born in 1927 in Java (then the Dutch East Indies), he moved to the Netherlands in 1949 and studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. Kho’s work is celebrated for its clarity, elegance, and human-centered approach, blending minimalist aesthetics with warmth and functionality. As the longtime art director and designer for Artifort, he was instrumental in elevating the brand to international prominence, both through his own iconic designs—like the C683 sofa and 416-series seating—and by recruiting talents such as Pierre Paulin and Geoffrey Harcourt. Beyond furniture, Kho also made a lasting mark in architecture, most notably designing the interior of Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in the 1960s, which set new standards for public space design with its calm, open, and user-friendly atmosphere. His legacy continues to influence contemporary design through a philosophy rooted in purity, comfort, and timeless sophistication.