Founded by Julius August Kalmar in 1881 in Vienna, Kalmar originally produced handcrafted objects with cast bronze. Over the years, they partnered with acclaimed architects and designers, eventually presenting their custom-made wares at major exhibitions such as the 1888 Vienna Trade Exposition, 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, the 1901 Export Exposition Scandinavia and the 1906 Austrian Exhibition in London. Entering the 20th century, Kalmar began crafting customized fixtures with top tier architects and designers for some of the largest luxury projects in the world, a path they continue on today. Notable projects include: Makkah Clock Royal Tower, W Doha Hotel, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund, The Langham Chicago, Park Hyatt Hotel in Tokyo, The Royal Terminal in Saudi Arabia, The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, and The Kremlin Palace in Moscow.