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On View: Chair Exhibit Showcases 20th-Century Style
Iconic 20th-century chairs from the Vitra Design Museum are collected in a spectacular Florida exhibit
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin and I am a certificate holder from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located... More »
A Hundred Years: A Hundred Chairs, on show at the Tampa Art Museum through September 16, is a wonderful display of iconic 20th-century chair designs from the Vitra Collection.
As iconic as they are beautiful, these original-production chairs and prototypes from just about every major architect and designer provide a wonderful glimpse into the evolution of 20th-century design. From Thonet's bentwood and Saarinen's molded fiberglass to Breuer's rationalism and Venturi's wit, this exhibit is filled with some of the most beautiful objects of the last century.
The only way it could have been better is if I had been able to sit in every chair to give it a test drive. Let's face it: Some of these chairs, such as that designed by Wright for the Larkin Administration Building, look positively uncomfortable. Others, like the Eames lounge, look cushy enough to sit in all day.
As iconic as they are beautiful, these original-production chairs and prototypes from just about every major architect and designer provide a wonderful glimpse into the evolution of 20th-century design. From Thonet's bentwood and Saarinen's molded fiberglass to Breuer's rationalism and Venturi's wit, this exhibit is filled with some of the most beautiful objects of the last century.
The only way it could have been better is if I had been able to sit in every chair to give it a test drive. Let's face it: Some of these chairs, such as that designed by Wright for the Larkin Administration Building, look positively uncomfortable. Others, like the Eames lounge, look cushy enough to sit in all day.
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by Mario Bedetti
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| The Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer dates from the mid-1920s. I can't help but be amazed that this chair has been in production for almost a century. Constructed of bent steel tubes and leather straps, it's said to have been inspired by the frame design of Breuer's bicycle. |
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Rietveld's 1930s Zig Zag Chair (shown here in miniature) is simplicity taken to the extreme. Made of just four slabs of wood joined by dovetail joints, the chair doesn't appear to be either comfortable or safe. I certainly wouldn't try leaning back!
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is as fresh and beautiful today as it was when it debuted, almost six decades ago. In continuous production since the mid-1950s, this lounge chair has to be one of the most enduring examples of midcentury modernism at its finest.
Another midcentury classic is the Tulip Chair by Eero Saarinen. The simple and elegant directness of this 1950s design still propels me into the future whenever I encounter it.
by Alterstudio
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The late 1950s brought us another classic, the Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair. I have to say that I was disappointed that the model on display at the exhibit is in charcoal leather. I much prefer the chair in a bright fabric — it's a shape and style that shouldn't be taken so seriously.
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Few things say 1960s mod more than Eero Aarnio's Ball Chair. A simple molded form and bright color combine to create a chair that's also a "room." Current models are available with a built-in MP3 player, perfect for when you want to get away — but not too far.
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Verner Panton's S Chair from the early 1960s is the first injection-molded plastic chair. Available in a range of colors, the chairs can be stacked and became a favorite of cafeterias and schools. I can't help but think that Panton's design is an inspired update of the Zig Zag Chair.
by Kathryn Waltzer
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There's no better example of 1970s design than the Frank Gehry Wiggle Chair from 1972. Made of corrugated cardboard laminated together, the chair celebrates freeform design and recyclable materials in a beautiful way.
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by Shannon Malone
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| Near the end of the 20th century arrived chairs such as the Tom Vac Rocking Chair by Ron Arad. These chairs use new materials and manufacturing techniques to create a fresh reinterpretation of midcentury modernism. |
The Rag Chair by Droog takes recycling to the extreme. Incoprating 15 bags of rags, the chair takes soon-to-be-tossed clothing items and transforms them into a useful, comfortable everyday object. It's even nicer if you get to use your own old clothes.
Have you been to this exhibit, or do you have a favorite 20th-century chair? Dish about it in the comments!
Have you been to this exhibit, or do you have a favorite 20th-century chair? Dish about it in the comments!
Ideabook published on July 19, 2012.
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kgbrn - I don't think that Houzz, nor I, are trying to insult anybody's intelligence. The Rag Chair is nothing I'd buy (don't think I've ever come close to spending $6k on a chair) but it really does look comfortable!