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Both highly sought after by vintage collectors, but at the same time cornerstones of contemporary production; inspired by a hi-tech context, but largely handcrafted, united by the use of leather as a covering combined with wood and metal, complemented by a pouf for maximum relaxation: today we rediscover two masterpieces of the concept of comfort, and also of artisanal and technological innovation: the Barcelona Chair designed by Mies van der Rohe (in the picture from one of the last 007 movies), the architect who preached the famous motto «Less is More», and the Lounge Chair created by Charles and Ray Eames, the fathers of ergonomic design in the United States. Two armchairs with timeless charm and great visual impact, which have never stopped being produced from their creation to today.
Mies van der Rohe designed the Barcelona, initially called MR90, for the German pavilion at the 1929 Barcelona Exposition. This was the Bauhaus period, and the pavilion was also the site of the inaugural ceremony of the exhibitions on display, which the Spanish king was to preside over. It therefore had to be an «important and very elegant chair», according to the architect. «The government was to receive a king ... The chair was to be ... monumental». The goal of van der Rohe’s creation was to conceive a piece of furniture that took away the importance of the traditional wooden structure with four legs, and to create an innovative chair that was aesthetically beautiful, comfortable and versatile.
Produced by Knoll since the 1960s, the Barcelona is the synthesis of van der Rohe's highly disciplined architecture, and is supported on each side by two flat chrome-plated steel bars that give it a touch of lightness, and leather straps for support the seat and back cushions.
Seen from the side, the single curve of the bar that forms the backrest and the front legs of the chair crosses the S curve of the bar that forms the legs of the seat and the backrest, an intersection that replicates the simple X-shape of the ancient Egyptian folding stools, as well as 19th century neoclassical seats.
The Lounge Chair on the other hand, is the queen of swivel chairs, structured on three curved plywood shells made of precious Brazilian rosewood, upholstered in leather and supported by an aluminum leg with five radial supports. Armrests and headrest are screwed to the central body, which flexes together with the backrest under the weight of the person leaning on it. With its enveloping silhouette, it was designed by the Eames in 1956 with the aim of combining elegant appearance, maximum comfort and high quality materials. Inspired by the image of the old English gentlemen's leather armchair, it has since been produced using essentially the same methods. The design has remained consistent, allowing owners to obtain replacement parts from Herman Miller and Vitra, the two brands that have produced it over the decades, regardless of the age of their chair. As a small curiosity, the first to own the Lounge Chair as a gift from the Eames was director Billy Wilder.
What's your favorite? if we wanted to combine these two classics with a furnishing idea, we could bring the Barcelona chair closer to the minimalist style typical of its creator Van der Rohe and place it in the living room, dining room, study as well as corporate/office spaces. The Lounge is easy to mix within an eclectic style, proving to be particularly comfortable for a reading session or a movie on TV; but there is really no limit to the possibilities of these two versatile chairs, which remain essential pieces of “modern classic design".
