The Barcelona chair is a design traditionally associated with Barcelona, Spain, but it has a much broader influence. The chair dates back to the mid-nineteenth century when it was created by the Barcelona Chair manufacturer, Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. The Barcelona Chair has often been described as resembling the rustic French seat, which was created in reaction to the “sit down and stand up” fad that had taken hold in the earlier nineteenth century.
The basic layout of the Barcelona chair consists of a steel frame supported by vertically curved legs and a flat top rail. Due to the steel framework of the chair, the entire structure is called a cantilevered seat. The legs of the Barcelona chair, which are typically curved or V-shaped, provide the primary means through which the user can tilt the seat forwards and backward. These legs are typically covered in leather, although other materials such as suede or fabric may be used.
During the early years of production of the Barcelona chair, this chair was primarily used for outdoor use, especially by members of the Barcelona Workers’ Club. In this capacity, the Barcelona chair was extremely successful. However, in later years the need for outdoor use waned, and as a result the chair became obsolete. Nevertheless, production continued and in the late twentieth century, the Barcelona chair saw its final refinement, when production moved to the facilities of the ThyssenKrupp Access, in Germany. Production continued into the following decade and into the first quarter of the twenty-first century, resulting in the refinement of the Barcelona chair.
The chair has an elegant design, based on the V-shaped steel bars that are typical of late nineteenth-century architecture. The armrests of the Barcelona chair are also similar to those of the V-shape, with steel plates that have been riveted in place, in an attempt to prevent the arms from rusting. The armrest of the Barcelona chair reclines, allowing it to be supported at an upright position. The backrest of the chair consists of fully padded materials. This design was used on the Barcelona chair to alleviate the discomfort of the workers.
Production of the Barcelona chair has increased substantially over the years, resulting in the popularity of the chair reaching nearly universal standards. Today, almost every major furniture manufacturer in the world produces a variation of the Barcelona chair. While the basic design remains virtually unchanged, the variety of materials and colors provided allow manufacturers to produce Barcelona chairs to meet the needs of any consumers. One of the most popular variations is the Barcelona chair with a steel frame and leather-covered arms. Although the standard Barcelona chair still uses the original V-shape steel bars, the modern versions have fully padded armrests and are available in almost completely color combinations.
Another variation of the Barcelona chair is the one with a steel frame, but with leather covered arms. The arms of the Barcelona chair are usually bolted together to prevent the user from moving his hands while seated. However, the arms are also available in full leather, with the option to have bolts added or removed, allowing for greater mobility. Another variation of the Barcelona chair with a bolt-together frame is the one with the arms having hinges, making the user be able to swing the arm at various angles.
A newer type of variation of the Barcelona chair is the folding chairs, which are made out of durable plastics similar to those used for table tables and other forms of furniture. The main difference between the folding Barcelona chair and the standard one is that the folded version does not need to have the steel rods attached. Instead, the legs of the folding Barcelona chair are fashioned into an A-frame. Some versions of the folding Barcelona chair are made out of thick fabric. The fabric is wrapped around the steel frames to ensure that the frame is not bent when in use.
The Barcelona chair has become a staple of offices, conference rooms, lounges, and home stools. Their popularity is due largely to the fact that they have a simple yet elegant design while being able to transport easily. Many different manufacturers produce these types of chairs, such as the Boccioni Marchetti Barcelona chair, which is made by the Barcelona manufacturer, Nocioni Marchetti. Other companies that produce this type of furniture include Favi, Gavina, and Savaria Concord.
