Even diehard fans of the timeless Barcelona Barcelona chair replica might be surprised to learn that its design truly originates from an try to create the most comfy cinema seat ever designed. Barcelona designer Iñigo Masegosa took inspiration from cinema pioneers comparable to Jean-Marie Cavaday and Philippe Starck in the 1950s, when he designed the first ever Barcelona chair.

At the time, Masegosa was a 25-yr-old furniture pupil who had simply opened his studio, however determined to pursue inside design after being inspired by the work of Georges Michel. The Barcelona designer started by merely reworking the fundamental design of the French producer, and eventually added a variety of distinctive adaptations, creating a wholly unique piece of furnishings design.

Since then, the Barcelona chair has appeared in numerous guises around the globe, and stays one in all the most well-liked and versatile seating options available at present.

The Classic Barca Chair

For a lot of, the basic Barcelona chair can be immediately recognizable as a consequence of its distinctive tapered legs and flared seat. This familiar silhouette is instantly evocative of the French-speaking metropolis that Masegosa designed it for.

The tapered design of the legs is a reference to the sloping streets of Barcelona, whereas the flared seat is a nod to the city's exuberant avenue art.

These components are mixed with a simple leather or vinyl upholstery in a basic “Barcelona” chair form. The proportions of the legs and seat are sometimes known as “inverted-T”, with the tapered legs meeting on the narrowest level at the top of the T form. That is then flared out to its widest point at the bottom, creating the distinctive “flower pot” shape that generations of Barca fans have come to know and love.

The future Barca Chair

Not content material with making a design that may sit comfortably in a cinema, Masegosa also designed the “Barcelona” chair with the future in thoughts. The studio aimed to create one thing that was as purposeful because it was trendy, and drew from each their experience designing for movie and graphic design, as well as their research of product design.

Masegosa's designs for cinema often feature his iconic tapered legs, which at the moment are a function of the Barcelona skyline. However, his flair for incorporating graphic design components into his seating design shines through on this piece, because the seat is adorned with an astrological chart.

The graphic design influences are additional obvious on this chair, which was created for the Italian manufacturer, Gio Ponti, in 1964. The designer took the chance to expand on the performance of the traditional “Barcelona” chair, by incorporating a hidden storage unit into the again of the sofa, perfect for stowing away the entire designer's aces and decks of playing cards.

The Starck Barca Chair

Another iconic chair that will go on to grow to be synonymous with Barcelona is the Philippe Starck design. It was initially manufactured by the French design firm for Louis Vuitton, however has since develop into a logo of the town. The designer was asked to contribute two chairs to the town's inaugural furniture exhibition, designed for Philippe Starck S.A.

The designer took this alternative to experiment with the proportions of the traditional “Barcelona” chair, and add a third dimension by turning it on its aspect, in addition to incorporating an ottoman into the design.

The Starck furnishings assortment was initially designed as an entire, with the chairs influenced by the silhouettes of particular famous folks, comparable to Thomas Jefferson and Vladimir Nabokov. It was then that Masegosa added his own spin to the design, and referred to it as “a modern take on the Louis XVI style”.

The Louis XVIII Chair

Louis XVIII is another French furnishings design agency that produces luxury seating and bedding merchandise for the house, with a specific give attention to sculptural design parts. The corporate was initially founded in 1795 and is named after the last king of France, who reigned from 1815 until his death in 1830. During this time, the company produced a wide selection of items, together with tables, chairs, and accent items corresponding to candelabras and scented candles.

Although the company was initially founded in France, Louis XVIII quickly started to be recognized for their beautiful designs, and orders began to pour in from as far away as Russia. Even at present, orders for Louis XVIII furniture typically come from far away locations like Japan and Hong Kong.

The corporate continues to supply contemporary designs in the unique French type, as well as adapting their designs for worldwide export. Considered one of their more moderen designs is the Louis XVIII Chairs, a contemporary take on the Louis XVI design, up to date with the extra luxurious parts of the time interval.

The Jean-Marie Cavaday Chair

Jean-Marie Cavaday was a French pioneer of the cinema trade, who began designing the Barcelona chair for the Louis-Philippe cinema in Paris, in 1912. Even then, the design featured distinctive elements that may become iconic, comparable to the use of leather for the seat and again, and the exposed steel frame. The leather had to be imported from England at the time, as there was no native tannery that could produce such a excessive-high quality product.

These elements are combined with a tapered leg design that may additionally turn out to be synonymous with the chair, serving to to present it its distinctive profile. The frame of the chair was initially designed to be a steel skeleton, to supply a functional basis whereas the wooden legs served as a decorative accent, including a graphic dimension to the design. It was initially produced for the French firm, Legrand.

The Louis XVI Chair

Louis XVI was the final king of France, who was forced to abdicate the throne after just three years on the throne. The French company, Charles Gilibert, began producing the Louis XVI chair in his honor in 1911. The design is sometimes referred to as the “royal” chair, resulting from its association with the French king, however it was in fact developed independently of his rule.

The Louis XVI chair stays some of the recognizable and in style pieces of French design because of its tapered legs and characteristic flared seat that might later turn out to be synonymous with the brand. Even now, decades after its creation, the design continues to be favored by design lovers all over the world. Several limited edition fashions have been produced over time, in different sizes and with added details, corresponding to carvings on the wooden and metal frames.

Many designers and architects have taken the chance to replicate the design in varied forms, typically using it as a starting point for further experimentation. A couple of of the extra effectively-known designers who have produced chairs primarily based on the Louis XVI design embody Philippe Starck, Ettore Sottsass, and Arseniy Budrevich.

The Windsor Chair

The Windsor chair is named after Queen Victoria of Great Britain, who reigned from 1837 until her dying in 1901. During this time, the corporate produced a wide range of objects, including tables, chairs, sofas, and ottomans, and plenty of of those are nonetheless in production immediately. The firm has additionally produced limited edition models primarily based on the silhouette of well-known folks, such as Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill. This design remains in production right this moment, having been up to date with the more luxurious components of the reign of Queen Victoria, to provide it a more contemporary appeal.

After all, there are many extra types of Barcelona chair to be found, including the Barcelona rocker, which was impressed by the band's title and the shape of the iconic band's logo. There can also be the Barcelona slipper chair, designed by the Spanish firm, Miele, which incorporates the use of natural fabrics resembling leather-based and tweed, together with colorful accents in the form of tartan plaid.

This is just a sample of the designs that will change into synonymous with Barcelona as the town's design heritage is revealed in a dedicated furniture exhibition curated by Masegosa. It's an exhibition that celebrates all features of design that will come to characterize the town, from its avenue furnishings to its interiors.