When designer Jan Nijland showed us his striking design for a bent steel tube chair, we thought for certain that we’d find something similar somewhere in our collection of classic design catalogs. But after hours and hours of searching, we were convinced – with the Steeler Jan has reinvented the classic tube chair with a design that creates the illusion that the seat is floating in space. In his design, Jan has devoted as much attention to the space between the elements as the elements themselves, to surprising and delightful effect.
Inspired by Jan’s ingenious chair design, we asked him to supplement it with an ottoman and a 157 centimeter wide sofa to create the full Steeler series. All three items are equally suitable for private living rooms or studies, and commercial spaces such as hotel lobbies and offices.
The Steeler uses a base of 32 millimeter tubular steel bent and twisted into a single continuous loop that almost invisibly supports the seat and seatback. Because the support for the seat itself comes from the back of the chair, the Steeler features a seat that flexes comfortably at the front edge, and with the arms flared out at an inviting 6 degree angle, both the chair and the sofa communicate openness and a lightness that comes to especially good effect in undersized urban living rooms.
The foam seats and backs are upholstered in either fabric or synthetic leather, including a weather-resistant fabric version for outdoor use. The seat of the chair is 50 centimeters deep and 48 centimeters wide, with the overall dimensions, including the frame, of 84 X 77 X 80cm (h x l x d). The ottoman is 42 X 50 X 60cm and the sofa 84 X 157 X 80cm.
The last time we checked, you still could not defy the laws of physics and the force of gravity, but with the Steeler, it almost looks possible!
