The outstanding aesthetic feature of .03 is its clear and straightforward shape - only when you sit down do you experience the great comfort it offers. An integral foam shell is mounted between the side sections and in the sitting area it assumes the contours of the user's body. When you lean back, the shape of the upper section of the backrest changes thanks to the built-in springs.

.03 is an ideal chair for all areas calling for comfortable seating even over prolonged periods - for example, lecture theatres and seminar rooms. The stackable chair can be linked (to form circles, too), and equipped with seat numbers. You can stack up to 12 chairs and because each shell lies directly on the one below it, the stacks are very compact.

The son of an abstract painter, Maarten Van Severen chose to study architecture at Ghent art school; he worked in various agencies on interior design and furniture projects, and in 1986 started to make furniture. His work, handproduced in his workshop in Ghent Belgium, reflects his quest for perfection in form, detail and fabrication. Maarten works in a variety of different materials: aluminium and ply to bakelite and polyester. Van Severen is also frequently commissioned as a decorator and furniture designer for private residence projects, teamed with Rem Koolhaas. Vitra produced the first industrial chair by Maarten Van Severen, the .03.

Photo courtesy of Hive