Architects and designers use armchairs to complete spaces visually and functionally. Popular armchairs today range in materiality from tubular steel frames fit with fabrics or leather, to wood structures and plastic molds. Ergonomic and visually appealing, armchairs can be selected for commercial or home lounge areas, defining the spaces around them. These are ten of Archello’s most popular products specified by architects and designers in the past year.
1. Husk by B&B Italia
Designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, the Husk armchair offers a stiff body made of Hirek ® containing a soft cushion divided into portions that highlight an ergonomic profile. According to Urquiola, those who look at this piece are to “perceive a sense of both mental and physical comfort.” The product comes with three cushion types and can be bought in tandem with an ottoman footrest. The fabric or cushion is produced in a variety of colors, and set on a shaped polyurethane shell available in white, black, red, yellow or tortora.
2. Slow Chair by Vitra.
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec designed the expansive Slow Chair using a strong, precisely shaped polyurethane knit stretched over a tubular steel frame. The result combines soft comfort with ergonomic support that is further enhanced by thin seat and back cushions. The translucent sling cover replaces the thick cushions of traditional armchairs, resulting in a design that is lightweight, yet generously proportioned. Whether in the living room or on a sun porch, the Slow Chair maintains an understated presence while offering superb comfort.
3. Up by B&B Italia
Designed in 1969 by Gaetano Pesce for B&B Italia, the Up series has for 50 years featured expressive shapes reminiscent of the female body, offering maximum comfort and visual effect. The Up armchair is upholstered in Bayfit® flexible cold shaped polyurethane foam on a bottom base of 100% jute fabric with PVC trimming. The cover button is made of fabric over a metallic base, and the bottom base button is made of thick leather.
4. Eames Plastic Armchair DAW by Vitra.
The Eames Plastic Armchair combines a wooden base with a plastic shell, yielding a rich contrast of materials. The seat shell consists of dyed-through polypropylene and is available with a seat cushion or full upholstery with molded polyurethane foam padding, attached to the shell with a welted edge. The wooden base is sourced from Western Europe and comes in various shades of maple or honey-toned ash, with a stained and lacquered finish. The shell and upholstery are available in a range of colors. The Eames Plastic Chair collection includes a visitor chair, dining chair, rocking chair, swivel chair or stacking versions.
5. Merano Collection by TON
TON presented its first model from the Merano Collection—the armchair that won the Red Dot and Good Design awards—at Salone del Mobile in 2010. The Italian-born designer Alexander Gufler has since expanded the collection with a chair, bar stool in two heights and a lounge armchair. The Merano lounge armchair combines solid wood legs with bent plywood in the seat and seat back and comfortable upholstery on the interior. Gufler describes the chair as “perfect for hotel lobbies, waiting rooms, as well as living rooms.”
The Tonella is produced by Spain-based Sancal. Spanish wine barrels remain the inspiration for the Tonella family products: the armchair consists of straight-line quilting that runs down the outside of the piece, like staves, contrasting with smooth interior cushions. The Marie Antoinette-style seat, back and arms are made from quilted flexible molded polyurethane foam. The interior can be upholstered in fabric or leather. The seat’s 18mm-diameter F1 epoxy coated steel tube support is available in two sizes and two finishes: bronze or nacar.
7. LJ 1 PET Felt Armchair by De Vorm
The Dutch-made LJ 1 is a universal armchair intended for commercial interiors. Made from sustainable PET Felt and high-strength steel, this product is durable and recyclable. Suitable for office, educational and public spaces such as libraries and restaurants, the LJ 1 armchair is available in eleven unique PET Felt blends. The design can be further customized with bespoke frame color and optional seat upholstery.
8. Merano armchair by TON
Designed by Alex Gufler for Czech Republic-based TON Czechia, the Merano armchair is one of the most popular products in the company’s portfolio. The armchair’s innovative design consists of two axially intersecting molded plywoods to guarantee a high level of comfort. The shape of the Merano chair highlights the precise
craftsmanship of the formed plywood that outlines its seat
and backrest. These contrast elegantly with the straight lines of the legs made of solid oak, beech or American walnut. The armchair measures 79cm in height by 43.6cm width by 42cm depth.
Harmony of shapes, ergonomics and elegance are the characteristics of the Jazz armchair by Pedrali. The seat and the curved backrest are supported by a light steel structure. The seat is made of molded and padded flexible polyurethane covered with blue or terracotta-colored fabric, or simil leather. The powder-coated frame is offered in antique brass, brushed bronze, antique copper and titanium.
Designed by Italian Carlo Colombo for Flexform, the Sveva armchair has a shapely shell made of rigid structural polyurethane and upholstered in saddle hide to accommodate a soft, goose down-filled seat and seat back cushions. The cast aluminum swivel base comes in versions with four or five spokes for additional strength, with finish options of satin, chromed, burnished, black chromed and champagne. The shell is available in nine colors.
