Vitra Standard Chair

Manufacturer: Vitra | Designer: Jean Prouvé, 1934/50

Engineering Made Visible

Chairs take the most stress on their back legs, where they bear the weight of the user's upper body. The engineer and designer Jean Prouvé illustrated this simple insight in his distinctive design for the Standard chair: while steel tubing suffices for the front legs, since they bear a relatively light load, the back legs are made of voluminous hollow sections that transfer the primary stress to the floor.

The Standard is offered with a seat and backrest in oak or walnut. The striking metal frame is available in a range of powder-coated colours. Jean Prouvé, who regarded himself as an engineer throughout his lifetime, was both the designer and manufacturer of his product ideas — his oeuvre ranges from a letter opener to prefabricated houses and modular building systems.

Specifications

• Dimensions — W42 × D48.8 × H82cm (seat height 45cm)
• Seat & backrest — oak (natural or dark finish) or walnut (black-pigmented finish), USA
• Base — bent sheet steel and tubular steel, powder-coated (smooth)

Pairs well with the Vitra Dining Tables collection. Also available as the Vitra Standard SP Chair with ASA plastic seat and backrest, and the Vitra Chaise Tout Bois in an all-wood version.

Part of the Vitra Dining Chairs and Dining Chairs collections.