Chair Trends by Dave Nemeth

One of the oldest pieces of furniture is the chair, this functional piece has its origins dating  back to the Stone Age, where Archaeological evidence of sculptural relics at Neolithic building sites suggest chair and bench-like areas. Ancient Egypt has some of the earliest surviving physical examples of the Western world’s use of chairs. Egyptian tombs that have been unearthed contain chairs and stools from as far back as the Egyptian Old Kingdom, about 2680 B.C., well preserved by Egypt’s dry air. Regardless of how far back the design of the chair dates it is the continual evolution and constant reinvention of this exceptionally functional piece of furniture, which continues to intrigue.

From British Louis chairs to American Chippendale chairs, almost every notable and world famous designer and architect has at some stage designed a chair, this includes the likes of Macintosh, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier all the way through to Philippe Stark and Karim Rashid. Many of these so-called “modern Classics” and designer chairs are still in production today, unfortunately in many cases replicated in China, but none the less there is still an appreciation for this past design. Trends over the past few years have seen a revival across styles from brightly painted Louis bustle back chairs through to bentwood pieces, which were originally designed by Thonet, even the Bauhaus classics being reinterpreted in a variety of colours.

New materials and applications of these materials have played a significant role in the design and manufacture of aesthetically pleasing chair design. One of the most famous of these in recent years has been the ghost range by Philippe Stark, which was all constructed out of moulded translucent polycarbonate. Stark cleverly took inspiration from the ever popular Louis chair and recreated a new modern masterpiece. This chair has now become so main stream that it can be  found at even entry level retailers at a very affordable price.

New chair design is however taking on a similar trait to what we are seeing in trends overall with the most dominant being, a return to craftsmanship. We are once again seeing well-made crafted furniture, which is also manufactured from sustainable resources. With a huge focus on recycling and sustainability, one of the most exciting new chairs is the “So So” chair by famous manufacturer Emeco and designed by French designer Jean Nouvel. The So So Collection, include chairs and stools made of 80% recycled aluminium, reclaiming both post-industrial and post-consumer waste. The chairs and stools are lightweight and durable, handmade in the factory in Pennsylvania, USA, using the same process as the famous 1006 Navy chairs from 1944. “I just kept the same DNA and evolved it into a new light and comfortable chair.” Says Jean Nouvel at the preview launch in Paris Sept 2012.

Yet another new design that takes inspiration from the past is the Proust Chair by Alessandro Mendini for Magis, which is based on the design of his original Proust chair which he did for Studio Alchimia in 1978. The new version however is made from rotational-moulded polyethylene and available in a host of colours and even multi colour for the very adventurous individual that really wants to make a bold statement. This new version is also waterproof making it ideal for a patio or other outdoor space.

With so much development continually happening with this functional piece of furniture, one can only wait and wonder what the creative’s will come up with next. - SAHO