Modern Commercial Seating

Post-modernist, that’s one of the many, many words used to describe the work of architect Frank Gehry, who lives and works in California. The master behind the design of internationally known buildings like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, he has received numerous awards for his work, earning him a place in an elite group of his peers – they are called ‘starchitects’ for good reason.

Aside from buildings, Gehry also designs furniture. The Frank Gehry Furniture Collection is a quintessential example of his work in this field. And modern looking the pieces in it are indeed, with their minimalist look that somehow still manages to convey a sense of play with their wide curves. They are chunky, but not awkward. The chairs and tables in this collection aren’t stiff and boring and don’t come across as trying too hard to make an impression. They just do.

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It is a fact that advertising companies use subliminal techniques in the campaigns they create for companies. The idea is to attract customers’ attention – and maybe their wallets – primarily by appealing to the natural human desire for sex. This they do by inserting subtle text or images that remind one of sex or sexual behavior. You’ll see a few examples of subliminal advertising here.

But this set of chairs by Italian designer Edoardo de Falchi is a bit more obvious, a bit more blatant. Or is it? These three chairs resemble certain letters of the alphabet, which are not readable at first glance. But arranged a certain way, one will eventually realize that they spell either “sex” or “yes.” A bit ingenious, isn’t it? I wonder what it means psychologically if you see “sex” or “yes” first. In any case, according to the designer, his Sex Chairs set is something of a subliminal joke regarding the relation between design and desire.

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Venice, the land of gondolas, canals, romance. That isn’t to say it’s a perfect lovers’ paradise, what with its share of dark history, but still there’s no denying it evokes feelings and images of romance. Apparently it has served as inspiration for some furniture designers too, like local designer Paolo Favaretto, who launched his Venezia chair in 2006.

What was it about Venice that had Favaretto naming his chair after the city? It isn’t shaped like a gondola, though the gondola plays a large part in Favaratto’s design process. In fact, it’s the chair’s slatted back that has a connection to the famed Venetian watercraft, because according to Favaretto, it reminds him of a gondola’s bow iron. Looking at the chair, though, my first impression was that it wouldn’t be very comfortable because of how the slatted back seemingly curves. It looks like it would make the user lean forward. I was mistaken; the back curves in such a way that it both embraces and flows away from the user. In addition, the ends of the chair rail are perfectly situated to act as arm rests.

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In the world of sneakers and athletic shoes there’s something called “Air Jordan.” Well, in the world of furniture design, we have the Air Chair by Jasper Morrison. It’s a seating option that would do well in many commercial establishments, as modern bar furniture, as outdoor café seating, as casual restaurant chairs.

The chair is created as a single-piece construction from a combination of polypropylene and fiberglass, and is durable enough for both indoor and outdoor applications. It is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, so no worries about leaving it out in hot weather. The hole at the back of the seat lets liquid flow down, so no problem about leaving it out in the rain either. Plus, it’s easy to clean – just wipe down with a piece of cloth. Need to put away several pieces that are not in use? No problem, just stack them up – up to ten at a time – and store them away somewhere. So it’s space-saving too. Its sturdiness doesn’t mean it lacks in the user comfort department; the seat flexes with the user’s weight.

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The Bla Bla Bla chair, designed by Marco Maran, has been a popular design for public areas both indoors and outdoors, for over ten years. The anatomical design gives excellent comfort.

The polyurethane shell is available in a total of twelve colours and is built for heavy contract use. The metal frame is available in stainless steel, chromium plated or epoxy coated.

The chair has a non-skid embossed plastic foot to ensure safety on all types of flooring. The whole chair is made from recyclable materials and has passed all international standards for contract seating.

Finishes : Tubular steel frame in chrome, brushed chrome or silver painted finish. Shell in polypropylene available in a range of colours.

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