Arper has put Lina Bo Bardi's Bowl Chair into production for the first time since its creation in 1951. The Italian-Brazilian architect's design pioneered a more relaxed approach to seating that was radical for the era. The reissued chair - presented in Milan during last year's Salone del Mobile (and previewed in Wallpaper's July 2013 issue) - is an important testament to her vision.
Arper worked closely with the Instituto Lina Bo e P.M. Bardi to produce the chair, basing it on the only existing original prototype and Bo Bardi's design sketches. The Italian furniture brand shares the designer's mission to place the person at the centre of her projects, and her idea that 'man is the ultimate objective of architecture'.
With her piece, Bo Bardi intended to introduce a flexible way of approaching the object - a chair adapting to people rather than the other way around. 'What is new in this piece of furniture, what is absolutely new, is the fact that the chair can achieve movement from all sides, with no mechanic means whatsoever, only due to its spherical form,' the designer wrote about her creation.
The Bowl Chair's genius is in its simple execution: made of two loose parts consisting of an upholstered shell standing on a metal structure, the seat is free to move in every direction. It is a chair for living, rather than just sitting, with the human being once again at the centre of the designer's thinking.
Produced in a limited edition of 500 (with by-order upholstery that includes one black leather and seven fabric options, and a selection of cushions in patterns inspired by original Bo Bardi sketches and developed by Arper in collaboration with Brazilian textile designer Dani Moura), part of the proceeds from the chair's sale will be invested in the Instituto Lina Bo e P.M. Bardi's social and cultural projects.
The chair has just been produced by Arper in a limited edition of 500. This picture was shot for our July 2013 issue, after the chair's preview in Milan. Photography: Ciro Frank Schiappa
Resting on a metallic ring structure, supported by four legs, the chair can be swiveled into different positions for maximum comfort
Lina Bo Bardi, pictured in 1978
The canvas pack handed out at the launch of the chair in Arper's London store opened up to reveal original design sketches and archive images of the chair, as well as pictures of the newly produced version
An original technical drawing of the Bowl Chair
Bo Bardi's graphite and watercolour sketches. The chair's simple design reflects the designer's preference for simple, functional and organic forms. Image: courtesy of the Instituto Lina Bo e P. M. Bardi
Bo Bardi pioneered a more relaxed approach to seating, allowing natural postures. ‘What is new in this piece of furniture, what is absolutely new, is the fact that the chair can achieve movement from all sides, with no mechanic means whatsoever, only due to its spherical form. There are no other pieces of furniture of this kind,’ Lina wrote about her Bowl Chair
The chair in the making
Arper worked closely with the Instituto Lina Bo e P. M. Bardi to ensure that the new chairs remained faithful to the original
The chair's padding is secured to its 'bowl'
In addition to this black leather version, the Bowl Chair is available in seven fabric colour options. Each colour option comes with three different sets of cushions to choose from, including a set of one-colour cushions to match the colour of the shell, two-colour cushions or a pair of patterned cushions inspired by Lina Bo Bardi's original sketches
A selection of cushions for the chairs in patterns inspired by original Bo Bardi sketches have been developed by Arper in collaboration with Brazilian textile designer Dani Moura
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