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In the spirit of looking to the past to reinvent the future, this month’s roster of new releases features updated versions of some legendary seating designs – among them Gubi’s Beetle, Paolo Rizzatto’s Young Lady armchair and a new sibling for the Emeco 1006. As things are starting to heat up outside, we’ve also included a selection of hard-wearing, water-resistant design for your next outdoor project.
Beetle Outdoor Chair by GamFratesi for Gubi
One of the most popular Gubi designs, the Beetle chair is modelled on the exoskeleton of an insect, with its seat and backrest formed from a single, curved shell. It’s only fitting then, that the brand has adopted the design for outdoor use, rendered in a hardwearing, UV-resistant polypropylene plastic. Thanks to its pared-back palette of beige and alabaster white, the chair can move seamlessly from outdoors to indoors.
Betwixt Armless Chair by Studioilse for Herman Miller
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Betwixt is what Ilse Crawford describes as an “everywhere” chair, meaning it can move effortlessly between different environments. Unable to find such a design in existence, Crawford and her husband, the industrial designer Oscar Peña, decided to create it themselves - for Herman Miller. The result is a streamlined, steel-frame chair upholstered in cork – a material that is both rapidly renewable and uniquely tactile.
Betty TK7 bar stool by Thau & Kallio for &Tradition
Danish furniture brand &Tradition has reimagined its Betty chair by design duo Thau & Kallio as a low bar stool. Called the TK7, it features the same distinctive webbing as the original, which in any other seating design would be hidden underneath the upholstery. Instead, the handmade linen thread is left exposed and turned into a design feature in its own right, offset against the sturdy, lacquered oak frame.
Goose chair code 873 by Emiliana Design Studio for Verges
A single sheet of curved plywood forms both the seat and backrest of the Goose chair, created for Spanish furniture brand Verges by local practice Emiliana Design Studio. Through this generous surface, the design displays the timber’s subtle graining while allowing its natural warmth to envelop the user. The chair comes with a range of different leg options including casters and a swivel base, allowing it to fit into a range of interiors from restaurants to offices.
Young Lady Upholstered Seat by Paolo Rizzatto for Alias
Heritage Italian furniture maker Alias has re-released the Young Lady armchair, originally designed by Paolo Rizzatto in 1991. Enduringly modern, the design contrasts a wickerwork shell with a three-star swivel base made of sleek, polished aluminium. For added comfort, the seat can be upholstered in a wide array of Kvadrat fabrics as well as a selection of leathers.
Amitha Metal Chair by Forsix Design for Gaber
The clean, sinuous shape of the Amitha outdoor chair is created using one simple material. Steel tubes are arched to form the swooping backrest as well as the seat and legs, creating a design that is both stackable and recyclable. The latest collaboration between Italian furniture brand Gaber and industrial design studio Forsix, Amitha comes with or without armrests and in a range of neutral colours as well as blue, red and olive green.
Linear Steel Armchair by Thomas Bentzen for Muuto
Copenhagen-based Thomas Bentzen has found a way to present durable, high-performance materials in a refined way with his Linear Steel series for Muuto. Far from the clunky outdoor furniture of yore, the collection sees water- and UV-resistant, powder-coated steel bent into an armchair with a gently curved back- and armrests. Beyond the classic black or white, the design is also available in a rich moss green and burnt orange.
Za Barstool by Naoto Fukasawa for Emeco
Emeco’s 1006 Navy Chair – an unrivalled icon of American design – has a new sibling in the Za stool. The round, four-legged stool, created by Japanese industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa, mirrors the timeless design of its forebearer. Made entirely from recycled aluminium, it also relies on the same manual, 77-step production process through which the 1006 was built from scrap metal during World War II.
Vester Chair by Chris Liljenberg Halstrøm for Skagerak
Skagerak originally designed this chair for Svinkløv Badehotel, a historial seaside hotel in Denmark that has recently been remodelled. In this spirit, the chair features a classic, oiled oak frame accentuated with a number of clever design details. Its back legs extend upwards to hold the backrest and form a convenient coat hook, while the backrest itself is accentuated by a thin, brass rod to help you pull out the chair.
Pier Bar Stool by Léonard Kadid for Resident
The solid oak Pier Bar Stool, a design by Léonard Kadid for New Zealand brand Resident, features mortise and tenons joints, making the slim design very sturdy. The stackable chair stands out with its sledge-inspired feet whose curved lines are mirrored in the slightly bent backrest. Made from solid oak, the piece is available with a natural finish or comes in a dramatic black.
