The Theo folding chair is a seating design created by Italian architect Matteo Thun and designer Benedetto Fasciana for furniture brand Plank. Constructed from moulded plywood with an oak veneer finish, the chair was developed for contract environments while also being suitable for hospitality venues, multifunctional spaces, and residential interiors. The design integrates a folding mechanism within its structure while maintaining the appearance of a conventional chair. Plank offers the chair in natural wood as well as lacquered finishes including walnut, brown red, olive green, and black.
The folding hardware is available in stainless steel, natural, or black oxidised finishes. An optional seat cushion can be specified in Moessmer wool, textile, or leather upholstery. Designed to adapt to changing spatial requirements, the chair can be folded and stored when not in use while retaining a permanent furniture-like presence when deployed.
Image Credit: Plank
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Disguised Folding Furniture
- Furniture that conceals compact mechanisms within conventional silhouettes creates new potential for flexible interiors without the visual compromise often associated with temporary seating.
- Contract-grade Warmth
- Natural materials such as moulded plywood and oak veneer bring residential softness into high-use commercial settings, opening space for durable products that feel less institutional.
- Adaptive Space Design
- As hospitality, office, and residential environments become more multifunctional, furniture with easy storage and refined finishes supports layouts that shift between formal, social, and operational uses.
Where This Applies
- Furniture Design
- Premium foldable seating represents a growing category where engineered construction, hidden hardware, and aesthetic permanence can redefine expectations for space-saving furniture.
- Hospitality
- Hotels, restaurants, and event venues benefit from refined movable furnishings that preserve atmosphere while accommodating fluctuating guest volumes and changing room configurations.
- Interior Architecture
- Multifunctional interiors increasingly depend on products that combine spatial efficiency with material quality, creating demand for furnishings that support both utility and design cohesion.
