German designer Patrick Frey has created the 'Stella Chair,'a sleek recliner made from wood and leather.
The chair's defining feature, however, is the back and armrests, which are fashioned from spring steel. The material was chosen for its flexibility and strength; the low-alloy steel offers a freedom of motion, meaning that it moves along with the user, but has a fixed shape it returns to.
The steel-clad portions of the chair were applied using a technique that's used in constructing saddles. Frey explains that he prefers this technique because it reminds him of saddles themselves, which he associates with strength, functionality and precision. Moreover, he enjoys the relationship between leather and wood, as it differentiates yet complements.
Upholstered Saddle Chairs
The Stella Chair Features a Cushioned Backrest
Trend Themes
1. Flexible Furniture - Exploring the use of materials with flexibility and strength in furniture design to enhance user comfort and movement.
2. Saddle-inspired Design - Incorporating techniques and aesthetics from saddle construction into furniture design for added strength, functionality, and precision.
3. Combining Leather and Wood - Exploring the combination of leather and wood in furniture design to create a contrast that differentiates yet complements the overall aesthetic.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - Opportunity for furniture manufacturers to create innovative designs using flexible materials and saddle-inspired techniques.
2. Interior Design - Opportunity for interior designers to incorporate flexible and saddle-inspired furniture pieces into their projects to enhance functionality and aesthetics.
3. Material Innovation - Opportunity for material suppliers to develop new flexible and strong materials suitable for furniture design, particularly for applications inspired by saddle construction.