As Promised: CHAIR PORN

In the world of architecture, there are many great architects, past and present, who also designed the furnishings for the homes they designed. Notable among them is of course frank Lloyd Wright, whom we have discussed at length on other occasions. (check the category tabs at the bottom of the post to check out the running set of post regarding FLW - how convenient...)

Anyway, here are some classics you have certainly seen before. Many of these have shown up in movies, on TV sets, and in some of the classic homes in your city, to be sure.

I've put a basic picture of the chair beside each, small, so it doesn't take up much room in this post, but you can click through to see it bigger if you want. I also put a larger picture of the chair, in its natural habitat, for drooling purposes.

I've sat in many of these chairs before - and I'd love to say I own ANY of them, but alas, such is not the case - yet.

EAMES BENT-PLYWOOD LOUNGE CHAIR
The LCW (Lounge Chair Wood) was hailed by Time Magazine as the Best Design of the 20th Century.

The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair (1946) has been referred to as the "most famous chair of the century," with a form that relates directly to the human body and holds no secrets as to how it succeeds technically. Low-slung, with an expertly crafted molded plywood seat and back, this chair cradles the user and features hardwood inner ply for durability.


GEHRY OUTDOOR
A Best of Show winner at Neocon 2004, Frank Gehry's latest contribution to the world of furniture design pays homage to his recent architectural feats. The four-piece Gehry Outdoor Collection (2004) is characterized by ultra-sculptural, monolithic forms that reference the heft and metallic fluidity of his recent Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. One can certainly see the similarities.


EAMES MOLDED PLASTIC ROCKER
The Eames Molded Plastic Rocker (1948), often known as the RAR (rocking armchair rod), was out of production for 30 years before being brought back with the blessings of the Eames Office. The iconic Eames wire base is set atop two maple runners for a smooth rocking motion that brings enjoyment to contract and residential settings.


LE CORBUSIER SLING CHAIR
Le Corbusier regarded traditional furnishings, with their structures hidden beneath wads of padding and upholstery, as relics of the past. With the studio's LC1 Chair (1928), the Le Corbusier furniture group stripped away all superfluity to create this sleek, elemental chair that is one of the signature classics of modern design.

LE CORBUSIER PETIT MODELE ARMCHAIR
The Le Corbusier group referred to their LC2 and LC3 collections as "cushion baskets" which they designed in 1928 as a modernist response to the traditional club chair. With cushions held in place without being tethered to the frame, the idea was to offer all the comfort of a padded surface while applying the elegant minimalism and industrial rationale of the International Style.


LE CORBUSIER CHAISE LONGUE
The LC4 Chaise Longue (1928), dubbed the "relaxing machine," is a lounge that mirrors the body's natural curves while appearing to float above its supports. A tubular bow-shaped frame holds a bed of fabric or hide atop a rectilinear steel base. The moveable frame adjusts along the base from upright to full recline with ease, anticipating later ergonomic furniture. The LC4 is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.


ARNE JACOBSEN SWAN CHAIR
Before the Swan Chair (1958), Arne Jacobsen's architecture and designs were shaped by an assumption of materials' natural ways of resisting. In other words, he could make them go only so far in becoming the structure he desired. With new technologies, however, the old rules no longer applied and he was able to shape fluid curves and single-piece molded shells. The Swan Chair is now made from polyurethane foam, but at the time, Jacobsen used Styropore to create its continuous shape. Designed for the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, for which Jacobsen was the architect, the chair's swivel base permitted guests to spin in their seat, thus becoming active participants in the busy hotel atmosphere. Made in Denmark.


ARNE JACOBSEN EGG CHAIR
Arne Jacobsen designed the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, as well as many of the furnishings. For its busy lobby, he created the biomorphic Egg (1958) and Swan, which are believed to be the first swiveling upholstered chairs. For a public area, the handcrafted Egg Chair is unique in that sitters can swivel toward the conversation area or away from others if privacy is desired. A tilt mechanism allows for relaxed lounging and the high back and curving elements are reminiscent of a traditional wing chair. Together they cocoon the sitter in a single-piece molded shell that appears to hover over the floor. Almost 50 years after its design, the Egg Chair is still used in advertising, film and television as a symbol of sophisticated urbanism. Think Austin Powers here.


EAMES TRADITIONAL LOUNGE CHAIR
In continuous production since its introduction in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair is widely considered one of the most significant designs of the 20th century. It was the culmination of Charles and Ray Eames' efforts to create a club chair using the molded plywood technology that they pioneered in the '40s. In Charles Eames' words, the vision was a chair with the "warm, receptive look of a well-used first baseman's mitt." The result has become the consummate lounge set, timelessly blending old-fashioned comfort and visionary modernism.


LUDWIG MIES VAN DER ROHE BARCELONA CHAIR
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Chair and Stool (1929), originally created to furnish his German Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Barcelona, have come to epitomize modern design. Mies van der Rohe designed the chair to serve as seating for the king and queen of Spain, while the stool was intended to accommodate their attendants. Still produced to his original specifications, this Barcelona is of quality fit for royalty.