Project info

CLIENT
CONCEPT

YEAR
2024

CATEGORY
PRODUCT / FURNITURE

TEAM
SVEN VON BOETTICHER,

Retro design study

Reinterpretation of the well-known sheet steel chair – a little different and fresher, but still recognizable as the chair that embodies the industrial aesthetic like no other piece of seating furniture.

Xavier Pauchard's design, which has become a cult product, brings a touch of industrial style to New York lofts, chic London boutiques and hip Berlin cafés. Xavier Pauchard (1880-1948): furniture designer, entrepreneur, pioneer in the galvanizing process. Shortly after the First World War, Pauchard became head of a company in Burgundy that manufactured products from sheet steel - and used his expert knowledge to boost sales. In 1927 he had the name Tolix protected and concentrated production on metal chairs and furniture. At the 1937 World Exhibition in Paris, Tolix chairs were set up all over the city - after that they were increasingly used in street cafés. The models were also found to be practical in factories, hospitals and offices due to their robust, stable and stackable design, and they soon conquered private living spaces.

For the concept - as with the historical model - individual parts are cut from robust sheet metal, pressed into shape and then welded together.

The design, which looks so simple, is a prime example of "form follows function": the seat is perforated so that water can drain away; the models can be used very well outdoors. The sheet metal beads in the legs enable stacking and provide a stable stand. Small rubber feet protect floors from nasty scratches.