5 Iconic Chairs Every Designer Must Know.

Chairs are more than just four-legged furniture; they are functional sculptures that define a space, adding depth, texture, and personality. The right chair offers not only comfort but elevates the entire environment. Whether you prefer to sit upright, lounge sideways, or even curl up and relax, there’s a chair perfectly suited to your needs.

All too often, the importance of finding the right chair, one that balances your needs and complements your space, is underestimated. Before investing in a new chair, take a look at our curated collection of chairs: a feast for the eyes, uniquely crafted, and representatives of iconic moments in furniture history.

Journey from the revolutionary Bauhaus period, which redefined furniture by stripping away ornamentation, to the exotic, culturally rich Art Deco era, Then comes the Mid-Century Modern, whose designs remain ever-relevant and influential today, and into the experimental, often controversial reign of Radical Design, and finally, the playful, deconstructive world of Postmodernism. You might just find your dream chair, or be inspired to create a furniture that is uniquely you.

Wassily Chair

In stark contrast to traditional chairs that prioritize comfort with stuffed seats and backs, the Wassily chair exists as a minimalist outline with canvas seat and back stretched across a tubular steel frame. Breuer drew inspiration from his first bicycle. He was impressed by the strength and lightness of its tubular-steel handlebars. Breuer himself described the Wassily as “the least artistic, the most logical, the least’cozy’ and the most mechanical”, a statement that pretty much summarises the Bauhaus ethos.

Breuer’s experiment with unconventional materials and forms injected a breath of fresh air into the world of furniture design. It speaks to the world that furniture could be more than mere comfort, but a vehicle for experimental and unique compositions.

The Bauhaus represented a groundbreaking period for furniture design, a time when artistic expression challenged the conventional sense of comfort. Designers embraced abstraction and geometric forms, forming a brand new aesthetic. Among the iconic objects born from this movement stands the Wassily Chair, also known as the Model B3 chair, designed by Marcel Breuer.

Bibendum Chair

What does this chair remind you of? Its tyre-like padded tubes look familiar, don’t they? The chair’s name, “Bibendum”, is, in fact, a reference to the Michelin Man, and indeed, designer Eileen Gray is inspired by this iconic figure to create a chair that, at first glance, by only the look of it, oozes comfort.

Created during the Art Deco period, the Bibendum Chair was originally designed for a French hat designer, for whom Gray was redesigning her apartment’s interior. The chair’s luxury can be seen from its upholstered form, at its seat, back and armrests, a complete opposite to the minimalism of Breuer’s Wassily Chair. Luxurious materials further enhance its appeal, including leather and chromium-plated tubular steel base, perfectly matching the client’s unparalleled taste and social standing. While relatively large for its time, the Bibendum Chair is remarkable for its ability to harmonize and blend seamlessly within its surroundings, and undoubtedly inviting one to sink into its padded embrace.

Gray’s masterful balance between size and spatial harmony makes the Bibendum Chair an exceptional object. It has a captivating charm that allows it to stand out without appearing odd in spaces designed for comfort.

La Chaise

Designed by the legendary design couple Charles and Ray Eames, “La Chaise” was originally created for the Museum of Modern Art in New York during the Mid-Century Modern period. This sculptural chair, reminiscent of a floating cloud, draws its inspiration from French sculptor Gaston Lachaise’s work "Floating Figure", a sculpture of a female figure seemingly floating on water.

The streamlined curves of La Chaise perfectly capture the sculpture’s elegance, inviting users to experience the same sense of weightless grace, reclining in unparalleled comfort, crossing their legs with elegance, and feeling as though they’re floating on cloud nine. La Chaise is perfect for anyone seeking the sensation of floating weightlessly within a work of art.

Up Lounge Chair

The Radical Design period is a time when furniture transformed into a vault for political and social expressions, and Gaetano Pesce’s Up Lounge Chair is a prime example, remaining a subject of debate even today.

Introduced in 1969 for B&B Italia, the Up Chair was inspired by the sponginess of sponges. It was crafted from polyurethane, a relatively uncommon material back in the days. Its key innovation was its ability to be compressed to one-tenth its volume for shipping, and expand to its original form thanks to the cold-shaped polyurethane foam, which provides the chair’s structure and density.

The globular shape of the chair represents Pesce’s vision of the female figure, while the ottoman attached to it symbolizes the image of a prisoner. This overtly feminine design has led to huge controversy. Nevertheless, the Up Chair undeniably represents the Radical Design period, perfectly combining a radical form with practicability, and bringing a luxurious aesthetic to any room the Up Chair is placed in.

Ekstrem Chair

Inspired by Ekstrøm’s own childhood experiences of being told to sit still, he dedicated himself to the idea of being able to sit freely. The Ekstrem Chair not only encourages dynamic postures, but is a blend of bold geometry, ergonomic considerations, and vibrant colour choices. The unexpected support it provides elevates the chair beyond visually striking, making it a compelling example of Postmodernism, where boldness and functionality collide to create a liberating and practical addition to any space, a work of art for both the eyes and the body.

More than just a chair, the Ekstrem is a sculptural art piece for the home, breaking conventions with its unusual aesthetics. Designed in 1984 by Terje Ekstrøm, during the height of Postmoderism, its surprising comfort and adaptability caters to those who seek to move freely while seated.

We hope you enjoyed this journey through the world of chairs. This is just a few chairs that we think could be a tasteful addition to spaces, and there are so many more exciting furniture waiting for you to explore. As we’ve shown, a chair is far more than a stable seat; it’s an extension of yourself, reflecting your lifestyle, seating postures, and the very essence of your space. Chairs can be playful, elegant, sculptural, and artistic - a true expression of your personality and taste.

At House of Forme, our interior designs are carefully curated to cater to our clients’ individual habits and needs. To provide furniture that best complements their lives, we also design and produce bespoke furniture pieces, from chairs and lighting to countless other custom objects. Our aim is to craft a tailored haven that nurtures your well-being and resonates with your individual needs. Subscribe below to receive exclusive insights into our world of bespoke design, or schedule a free consultation to see how we can transform your space.