EspañolIn a world of design dominated by the latest technologies, it's easy to overlook the enduring appeal of furniture made of traditional materials. Yet, a few chairs stand out as true classics that will never go out of style. From Louis XIV to midcentury, these timeless designs have the potential to inspire modern interpretations.
A chair’s ability to change the way we sit has long been a source of inspiration for designers. Whether it’s the hunchback, the rocking chair, or the swivel, these designs have been around for centuries and continue to make a mark on contemporary design.
The Eames Lounge Chair was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1946. The couple had been experimenting with plywood for years, and the material’s smooth curves proved to be perfect for their chair designs.
It took a friend on Billy Wilder’s film set to inspire the couple to take their experimentation into the realm of furniture. The pair had noticed that a jerry-rigged lounge chair that Wilder had used on the set offered great comfort. They decided to try a similar seat using molded plywood, and the result was what is now known as the Eames Lounge Chair.
In addition to the lounge chair, the couple designed a series of other designs that use this new molded plywood technology. These include a molded plywood lounge chair and ottoman, a molded plywood folding screen, and a molded plywood coffee table.
During this period, Herman Miller gained exclusive market and distribution rights to the Eames’ award-winning molded plywood products. They also began importing the chairs to Canada and Europe.
With the introduction of the Sense system, Herman Miller introduced a design that is unique for its tool-free assembly capabilities. The components lock, click, and snap into place, so they can be assembled and reassembled without tools, reducing installation time by 40 percent.
Today, the Sense system is available in an array of modular, freestanding offerings that allow for flexible and adaptable workspaces. These offerings are a prime example of Herman Miller’s commitment to dematerialization, delivering more performance with less material.
The leisure chair factory traces its roots to the Sheboygan, Wisconsin, furniture factory that was founded in 1807. Thomas Groh, a local businessman, purchased the Sheboygan Chair Company and built a factory on Falls Road. This facility quickly became a national hub for manufacturing chairs, producing more than 40 dozen a day.
From this humble beginning, the leisure chair factory grew to become a leading designer of ergonomic, sustainable and functional office furnishings. The company’s reputation for design quality and high-performance seating has made it one of the most respected in the industry.
After the Eames’ departure from Herman Miller in 1963, Nelson and De Pree recruited Charles and Ray Eames to join them in their design firm. This move ushered in a period of innovation at Herman Miller and helped the company establish itself as an international design powerhouse.
