Polo's Furniture Blog

Difficult to put but nothing new to the iconic Vitra has presented this spring at I Saloni. Although we are accustomed. Knowing your catalog and track record, it is little risky considering this iconic brand in Switzerland as the top contemporary furniture.

Milan fair last stand was one of the busiest. Literally, the space was small and there could be a pin. Several domestic scenery introduced to the eager visitors in the “house vitra” a concept he remembered his VitraHaus showroom, built by Herzog & de Meuron in the form of several houses stacked. But there was also a complement to domestic vision: we also saw foreign elements for the first time an outdoor chair, and parts for “vitra office”, another strong brand.

Without doubt the star of the Vitra catalog 2011 has been the chair Tip Ton, a plastic chair economic, ergonomic, and manufactured in colorful tones that left no one indifferent. Designed by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby, Tip Ton defines a new class of seat: a chair, leaning forward. Because her name refers to this feature of double position, swing.

His great innovation lies in the inclination of 9 ° generated by the shape of the shoes of the chair, which favor a new posture when sitting, so far only available in mechanical office chairs. The pelvis and spine straighten, and improve circulation. The chair is made entirely of plastic from a single mold so it is virtually indestructible and completely recyclable. It is designed for a multitude of areas: schools, libraries, cafes, offices, and why not at home.

This is the first project from Vitra and Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, architects from the Royal College of Art in London.

And it seems that collaboration with Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby has been fruitful, and also from them is the Map Table, a program of universal tables that can be used in a flexible way that optimizes space. So much so, that the very Vitra used it as a great central meeting table at the booth of Milan. Designers with extensive experience in the field of planning training and conference rooms, concluded that it was necessary to develop a new system of flexible tables and simple. Map Table is made of sturdy melamine-coated boards and rectangular, square, trapezoidal or round to a large number of configurations. The legs are tubular steel and allow various mounting positions in front of tables lined up next to one another, stacked or chained together. In short, the ideal table for the office or for the “home office”.

Another of the most attractive has been the chair for outdoor Waver, designed by Konstantin Grcic. Also the German first draft of the Swiss house, and certainly far aesthetically Grcic many other projects that presented for other brands. On this occasion, the German has “disheveled” and has abandoned its more “engineering” Waver is a surf-inspired chair, built with materials used for outdoor sports such as windsurfing and paragliding own. The structure, light, performance, maximum. And the chair is certainly convenient: the user hovers over a cloth seat attached to the tubular steel frame by means of two straps. The fabrics have been chosen in a range of colorful energy fluorine sporty character. Without doubt, the very best of the fair, which is why we include it in one of our products Top 5.

Another of our Top 5 was the seat of the Argentine Alfredo Häberli Jill, also a first collaboration between the designer and brand, inspired by the technique of molded plywood. In the ’40s, Charles Eames first attained plywood shape in three dimensions, enabling the manufacture of seats with an organic form, but could not get the case was in one piece. But finally, through a patented process, wood veneers Jill curve until they meet aligned on the surface of the seat. Two infinite lines, one internal and one external, cross and frame the surface, creating a sculptural form that follows the shape of the body, welcoming it with surprising comfort derived from its remarkable flexibility. Jill bases, made of tubular steel, cable, aluminum and wood, are also a reference to historical models. Its color is strong and expressive, in tune with the available optional upholstery fabric.

According to Alfredo Häberli, “Jill’s inspiration comes from the Leg Splint, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the 40 to the U.S. Navy. The fascination generated by the three-dimensionality of the top and the tension of the holes gives the board a huge sculptural value that goes beyond functionality. A similar fascination Plywood Elephant also exercises due to its plasticity and the milling of his face. Cantilever overhang seat Jill surface, similar to a trampoline, raises the question of whether perhaps it is a case with a seating surface or seating surface framed by a ribbon to the back. The various bases and materials make the case explicitly highlights, while its styling makes a visual reference to the flexibility and elasticity of the seat shell. You can see the chair Jill saw here.

Nor could he fail in this catalog designer luxury “super normal”, as Jasper Morrison calls itself, in the current philosophy of type design has just normal things to work with Vitra based for many years. Hal chairs its program needs can be met most diverse bases its wide range of colors and fabrics are combined with a flexible seat shell and comfortable, made of synthetic material.

The housing can be combined with various bases, which makes tubular steel stacking, wooden legs which gives the chair a home accent, another free-swinging, with and without arms, and two variants type bar stool at different heights. Hal is thus a universal chair that looks good both in private homes and in restaurants, shops, offices, and studios. And with a powder coated base can also be used outdoors. Hal meets all relevant safety standards, is robust, easy to clean and once you’ve reached the end of his long life cycle can be recycled depending on the type of material. Can you ask for more?.

We can not finish the review with a classic designer Vitra: Antonio Citterio, who has designed more than 25 years for the brand. He introduced the chair Fauteuil Grand Repos and Suita. Grand Repos is a big swivel chair for the home, inspired office chairs. With a generously sized padded and comfortable armrests, the backrest and seat can move independently of each other and placed in various amplitudes of angle. Synchronous occult mechanism automatically adjusts the user’s weight, ensuring a high comfort and optimal support of the back. The chair can be locked in any position. It is available in different types of leather and fabric, decorative stitching give it a distinctly modern tone and almost traditional. The base version is available in polished or powder coated color.

The seat Grand Repos is supplemented with small padded bench-China, which can also serve as an informal single seat in any room or waiting area

For its part, Fauteuil Suita-chair, in French, also Citterio, is a compact seat that complements and extends the family of sofas presented Suita 2010. Defined by a deep comfortable seat and high back, Suita Fauteuil shares with the rest of the family not only its formal expression, but also features aluminum legs and stirrup leather and fabric upholstery. Can be used both at home and in offices or other public spaces.

And finally, the brand sympathetic nod to collectors of Vitra, the French L’Oiseau Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. One accessory that complements the personal collage of a contemporary home in a friendly and without falling into kitsch ornaments. Vitra recognizes the importance of the much-maligned “decoration”: fabrics, colors, light, objects and accessories are the sensory impressions that ultimately create the spaces that can be designed or redesigned according to the moods and needs.

L’Oiseau is the representation of a bird at rest, which emerged as a free labor in the workshop of the Bouroullec, and describes his inspiration: “We have always been fascinated by representations of animals, regardless of whether they were primitive or modern, from bears made of walrus ivory to blown glass birds from Finland. Devoted to these topics may seem perhaps out of date, but we believe that even in the times we live in is necessary to extend this bestiary symbolic imagination. “L’Oiseau, milling and sanding maple gently recalls the simplicity of wooden objects Nordic folk art.

More about Vitra, photos courtesy of Vitra. Stand Images Eduardo Perez.