Barcelona chairs
Designed by Mies Van der Rohe
Photo taken in 2006 at the M&T
Bank, Buffalo, NY
[The Barcelona chair] was made from nine parts in flat and tubular steel. They were chrome-plated – a completely new process in furniture manufacture at the time. Although the chairs had four legs, the architect experimented with a cantilever principle to achieve the free-floating seat. |
In 1932, Mies and Lilly Reich designed what is perhaps his most famous creation. Created for the German Pavilion at the Barcelona International Exhibition. The Pavilion chair was intended as a modern throne; a thick cushion upholstered in luxurious leather and set upon a curved metal frame (chrome plated ) in the shape of an X inspired by classical furniture." |
Mies re-designed the original chair in 1950 in order to make use of stainless steel which had become available due to a recent advancement in technology.
Manufactured by Knoll Interntional since 1953. See also Knoll, Barcelona Chair