Furniture

Modern Icons: The George Nelson Coconut Chair

A hard shell provides surprising comfort in this famous modern chair design

Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.

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The Coconut Chair is a stylish slice of modern cushiness. It was designed by George Nelson in 1955. A prolific architect, furniture designer and critic, Nelson served as the director of design at Herman Miller from 1945 to 1972.

Nelson didn't really have any experience designing furniture when he was hired at Herman Miller, but that soon changed. He cranked out one home-furnishing hit after another, including iconic mid-century modern pendant lights, benches and clocks. The list of other mid-century all-stars who worked under Nelson includes Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Harry Bertoia — and their relationships are the reason so many of their pieces still work so well together today.

In 1955 Nelson designed the Coconut Chair "to give lounge seating comfort, together with great freedom of movement." Here's a closer look at this chair.

by Herman Miller Store

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Nelson Coconut Chair - Herman Miller - $3,999.00 »

The Coconut Chair has a plastic base covered with one piece of thick foam rubber. The top tip extends a little farther than the sides for maximum comfort. The base is bent steel.

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by Baltis Architects

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Upholstered in electric blue, the chair is the perfect seat for enjoying some bright Pop Art in this gallery-like space.

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by Peter Rose Architecture and Interiors

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While the upholstery is available in a range of colors, black leather offers the strongest contrast to the white shell base and highlights the chair's pleasing geometry.

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by Laidlaw Schultz architects

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The bent steel base helps this chair fit right in with other mid-century modern iconic pieces, like the Bertoia wire stool (seen here), the Eames Shell Chair with Eiffel base or the Eames Elliptical Table.

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by Laidlaw Schultz architects

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As one with his eye on the transformative architecture of his time, Nelson took special notice of his peer Eero Saarinen's Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Along with a tropical fruit, it inspired the design of this chair.

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by Jonathan Parks Architect

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I love the way the Coconut Chair in the distance plays off the strong angle created by this island and the coordinating angle on the ceiling. This picture says a thousand words about hiring a professional photographer and interior stylist when shooting interiors.

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by FORMA Design

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The chair has the right profile for a minimalist contemporary bedroom. Its shape adds a few subtle curves in a very streamlined way.

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by Gary Hutton

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Here it is again wrapped in warm brown leather.

More:
Houzz Tour: When MoMA is Your Next-Door Neighbor
18 Great Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Modern Icons: The Eames Wire Base Table

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Comments

newcondo says:

Unfortunately, they just closed a massive, George Nelson exhibit at the Bellevue Arts Museum, 15 minutes from Seattle

3 months ago · Like

Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR says:

It's official -- I like the all white version the best! It's always interesting to me where we get our creative influence and inspiration. Loved seeing the roof of the Kresge Auditorium. Also glad to hear that someone gave him a chance to design furniture. Wonder how things would have turned out if he'd been turned away for "no experience"?

3 months ago · Like

Becky Harris says:

P, I think they are the ones who chased him down for the job! How cool is that? I wish someone would knock on my door and insist I design furniture. Although, my bad designs would probably have me wind up the defendant in personal injury cases.

3 months ago · Like

jensmi65 says:

I wish I had been hit with some advertising of that! I would have wanted to check it out!!

3 months ago · Like

mmsalg says:

I have a thing for interesting chairs and this is fabulous! Love the design, the colors, everything. It works great in evert space. Love it! and love these too http://blog.custommade.com/2012/01/why-i-heart-custom-chairs/

3 months ago · Like

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