Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday. For most Americans this is a sacred holiday, the day of American Football's championship game. Millions of Americans gathered around the TV, drank, and collectively lost their shit as the New England Patriots robbed the Seattle Seahawks of the win. Football isn't on my radar, but I live in Seattle and this city has been a sea of blue and green for the past couple of months. The number 12, which signifies the mark of a true Seahawk fan, has been plastered around town and filled nearly every business window. The energy that had been growing in the build-up to Sunday's game was palpable. As a non-fan, even I was susceptible. As the final few minutes played out I found myself feverishly refreshing the live-blog with a knot building in my stomach. But the Seahawks lost and it's over. A tough loss, but maybe next year.
As consolation for my fellow Seattlites I offer a design tribute. This week I pay homage to the modern hearth and centerpiece of the weekend's festivities, the household television. Personally I don't own one, but that's more of a financial statement than a philosophy. And that's not to say I don't watch TV. Because I do, probably more than I'd like to let on. But today's TV is kind of an eyesore, a design usurper that demands the room's attention. Current TV's are huge and difficult to design around. Nothing breaks a room's cohesive theme and colour story like a 50" black rectangle centered on the wall.
In the past, TV's had a bit of flair – something to work with. They were encased in molded plastic and had interesting designs. They were built into wooden cabinets to seamlessly blend with the room's furniture. And they were modest! Small enough to hide away in a cabinet – and those that weren't were impressive enough to go on full display. Or maybe not. I'm sure there are plenty who could and would argue otherwise. Perhaps without the modern TV, a day like Sunday wouldn't be the same. The energy and camaraderie diluted onto a smaller screen with a weaker climax. Who knows? Here I've pulled ten of the best TVs from the drydockshop archive for you to decide.
Words by Steven Holt
