The Amazing Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe’s Barcelona Chair

The Barcelona Chair achieves the quality of line and the refinement of proportions and materials characteristic of Mies van der Rohe's highly architectural skills. The Barcelona, chair which is attributed to the great modernist master Ludwig Mies van der Rohe the chair was originally designed for the German Pavilion at the International Exposition of 1929 in Barcelona. The Barcelona chair is supported on each side by two chrome-plated, flat steel bars. Seen from the side, the single curve of the bar forming the chair's back and front legs crosses the S-curve of the bar forming the seat and back legs, making an intersection of the two. This simple shape derives from a long history of precedents, from ancient Egyptian folding stools to nineteenth-century neoclassical seating. The cantilevered seat and the back of the original chairs were upholstered in white kid leather with welt and button details. The Barcelona Chair is comprised mainly of chromed steel or stainless steel flat strips, that are welded together, to form a strong frame. High grade steel and stainless steel is used, as this will ensure that the chair survives many years of use. In 1950 Mies van der Rohe redesigned the Barcelona Chair, so he could use stainless steel, a material that was completely new back then. Stainless steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, with a minimum of 10.5 percent of chromium. It is resistant to rust and corrosion, making it ideal for the manufacture of high quality Barcelona Chairs. The original chair, each side frame was manufactured from two pieces of steel welded together and then ‘bolted’ together. Moreover, during the 1950s stainless steel was used also for the construction of the frames. The adoption of stainless steel meant that the frame could be manufactured in one piece, without joint lines. It was mass produced in 1950s by ‘Knoll’ furniture manufacturers and this continues today. Each cushion is manufactured from forty individual pieces of leather. Each square is individual cut to size. The buttons hold the patch work of leather squares together. The piping between each button is also made of separate pieces. The buttons are hand stitched in position. From the side, the frame of the chair has a scissor form, a sign of power from ancient Egyptian times. manufactured from two pieces of steel welded together. The welds are hand finished to a polished finish. The frame is them chromed, a relatively new technique as applied to furniture in 1929.

The fact that the frame Barcelona Chair is now made of stainless steel also meant that the legs could be made of one solid piece of metal. Mies van der Rohe was a Bauhaus designer, someone who believed in producing functional furniture which was ready for mass production. The odd about this fact is that the Barcelona chair is completely unfit for mass production right now and an authentic version of the chair is very expensive. In 1953, six years after Mies van der Rohe’s partner Reich passed away, the company Knoll Inc. started with the production of the Barcelona Chair. The frame is available in chrome and stainless steel and the cushions are available in different colors and leather types.

The Burosthul by Eames

There are only two authorized manufacturers of the Eames designs in the world, and that's Herman Miller and Vitra. Regardless, spinoffs continue to pop up around the internet and at big box retailers, and it's not the first time. The request was for leisure chairs light enough to move from indoors to out and strong enough to withstand the elements. At the time, the Eameses were exploring ways to use aluminum, which had been strengthened, refined and made more affordable since WWII. They constructed a lightweight die-cast frame for the project, then wrapped it in a sling which a “sitting pocket” that subtly conforms to the body’s shape. The result was a completely new type of seat and a departure from the idea of a chair as solid shell. While the original concept was for outdoor seating, the Eameses quickly recognized its possibilities for indoor use. This collection has been in continuous production by Herman Miller since 1958. Constructed of 60 percent recycled materials, it’s also 85 percent recyclable at the end of its useful life. The Eames EA 117 and EA 119 office chairs or Deutschland Eames burosthul in German were designed by Charles and Ray Eames, and are one of the most famous designs from the aluminum group. The Germans loved the Eames Burosthul and these series of designs raised in 1958 and belong to the classic furniture designs of the 20th century. The Eames Burosthul chairs belong to the "Aluminum Group" and are some of the most influential designs of the 20th century. Instead of the usual solid seat, Charles and Ray Eames chose to use a piece of leather or fabric, that is stretched across the aluminum frame. This created a tightly stretched, yet elastic seat. The office chairs are often spotted in TV series and movies and that's not without a good reason because the Aluminum group Eames Burosthul chairs are a symbol or luxury and comfort. The chairs are designed to optimally support your lower back. The Deutschland Eames burosthul chairs are not just popular for their looks but also for the extraordinary comfort. 

The ethically designed seats of the chair are so comfortable with the piece of leather and two pieces of aluminum side ribs and stretched the upholstery tautly around each end of the frame. The result is an extremely comfy and incredibly stylish chair at reasonable prices. With the fact that the design of the chair has come along a long span of time, it is commendable for the inventor to have thought about the wonderful sleek design. Charles Eames blessed the future generation with the art of its own type. He together with his wife Ray is responsible for many iconic designs of the last century, including these classic inspired Eames office chairs. Eames made effective use of groundbreaking processes and new materials and in the 1950’s it went on to be the first mass produced plastic chair. It remains to this day an iconic piece that defines an era yet still remains its greatness today.