Easy Chair

Expert Opinion: This chair falls under the same rubric of that ubiquitous white plastic garden chair, although I think that Jerszy’s spin on it is enough to separate it from that tired archetype. I like its friendly, soft, rounded sensibility and easiness. And Magis is never afraid of color. It is lightweight and easy to stack—perfect for outdoor decks and beaches. This chair is definitely an affable zaftig blobject, but very expensive compared to, and not very dissimilar from, the cheap $5 garden chairs made of polypropylene. The problem with polypropylene, especially when it’s matte in texture, is that it tends to look dirty and scratches easily.

What We Think:

Add your review

ArcoBellini Chair

Expert Opinion: If Darth Vader were a chair, here he’d be. Either Mario Bellini is nostalgic for the Star Wars era, or there is a younger Gen-X designer in his office. On the one hand, I like this chair because it is an intelligent, quality, injection-molded chair made from a reinforced nylon polymer, which makes it remarkably strong, scratch resistant, stackable, and comfortable. On the other hand, it’s not far from the world of Rubbermaid. The sharpness of the chair concerns me a little, as I would prefer it to be a little softer and less dangerous. The armrests are not at all comfortable, and unfortunately the beautiful high-gloss finish makes it easy to slide right off.

What We Think: Rashid’s Dark Side theory is spot on; Bellini’s son collaborated on the design. This is a versatile contemporary classic, adept at the rigors of daily use as well as upscale get-togethers. We like the juxtaposition of old and new archetypes. The quirky combination creates a playful sensibility without being goofy.

Add your review

Panton Chair

Expert Opinion: I love and respect so much of Verner Panton’s work. This chair is so elegant, amorphous, soft, and fluid. Everything is beautiful about it, the clearance for your feet, the comfort, and the visual articulation. The only issue I have is that because it has become so familiar, it sends a strong ’60s statement, so it is hard to use in interiors without dating them. Also, it is now produced in polypropylene, whereas the original was thick glass-reinforced polyester that was glossy, heavier, and much more elegant.

Add your review

La Marie Chair

Expert Opinion: The clarity, pellucid quality, and strength, paired with Starck’s hard sculptured lines, create a new and interesting chair based on an 18th-century archetype. Polycarbonate wants to be square and hard-edged when injection molded, so this form answers the technology beautifully. But this chair is too narrow and a bit too small for long sitting. I sat on it for two hours during a panel discussion in Brazil and lost circulation in my legs from the sharp front line. Even worse, someone in the audience fell off one during the symposium.

What We Think: Starck’s combination of a traditional exemplar with this transparent material was an important design benchmark. We agree with Rashid, it’s a bit small, but we’d still be proud to repose on such a clever dialogue between old and new themes.

Add your review