Cool Plastic Chairs (and one bad chair)

First, a little history…

After the Second World War, interests turned back to design. The latest plastic injection moulding technology was the most fashionable thing to date and designers were rushing to create their latest plastic products.

But one thing eluded designers between the 1940′s to the 1960′s – a one piece plastic moulded chair which is aesthetically pleasing and desirable. Some designers managed to create plastic shells with the chair legs seperately attached, but the practicalities involved in removing the plastic from the moulds and the material’s limited strength meant that a single unit plastic chair was almost impossible to produce.

 

Cool Plastic Chairs that nearly made it to Plastic Oneness…

Charles Eames’ DAR Chair designed in 1948. The plastic shell is in available in several different colours, mounted on metal legs. More recent designs feature wooden legs. (See also DSW chair).

The DAR Chair

 See Angel Chair http://www.click4interiors.co.uk/dining-chairs/angel-designer-dining-chair-2215828-412368-832081.php The Angel Dining Chair

Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Chair designed in 1957. Appeared to made completely out of plastic, however this design has a heavy metal base and the join between the two materials is carefully blended.

The Tulip Chair

 See ZigZag Dining Chair http://www.click4interiors.co.uk/dining-chairs/zigzag-designer-chair-2215903-412368-832195.php 

The ZigZag Chair

Robin Day’s Stacking Chair, designed in 1963. A plastic moulded shell mounted upon metal legs.

The Stacking Chair

See Safi Stackable Dining Chair http://www.click4interiors.co.uk/dining-chairs/safi-modern-stackable-dining-chair-set-of-4-2171208-412368-778904.php 

The Safi Chair

 

 

Chairs that achieved Oneness!

Verner Panton’s S Chair designed in 1960 was the first of its kind. Panton ignored the tradtional ideas of a chair having 4 legs, and created a chair as one flowing unit. A design which is undeniably popular today.

The S Chair

See Panton dining Chair http://www.click4interiors.co.uk/dining-chairs/panton-inspired-dining-chair-1990693-412368-817651.php 

Panton Chair

 

Phillip Starck’s and Eugeni Quitlett’s Mr Impossible Chair. Designed in 2007.

The Mr Impossible Chair

See Eros Pod Chair http://www.click4interiors.co.uk/pod-chairs/eros-clear-chair-2036753-374764-610151.php The Eros Pod Chair

 

 

Joan Gaspar’s Lisboa Chair, designed in 2009. Gas injection moulded plastic. Available in several different colours.

The Lisboa Chair

The Gio Chair

 

The one bad chair…

The Monobloc Plastic Chair (or common garden chair), designed in 1980. An unlicensed design, this chair has been copied and reinvented hundreds of times. Some may consider this design to be the scourge of plastic seating, however some have taken this design as inspiration.

The Monobloc Chair

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