The work of Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, known together as Industrial Facility, is characterised by its precise form and aesthetics derived from functionality. The British-American design duo carefully considers an object’s context and its relevance to modern life in their designs.
Their new 220 chair range reflects Thonet’s formal heritage with an ultra-modern take on the company’s line of moulded plywood furniture: the design draws on the familiar lines of the classic bentwood chair and reinvents it as a stackable, material-efficient moulded plywood model that can be used anywhere. The ergonomic seat shell is fixed to a light tubular steel frame. Also available with optional bentwood armrests, the design was unveiled in a sneak preview at the Milan Design Week 2022 in June. (The official market launch will take place during the Orgatec trade fair, 25-29 October 2022).
By designing a light, stackable chair with a moulded plywood seat shell and – optional – bentwood armrests on a tubular steel frame, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin (Industrial Facility) have created a new, modern interpretation of “Thonet’s DNA”. The S 220 chair can be used anywhere – from private homes to the contract sector. Its design takes inspiration from the established shape of the iconic 214 and 209 bentwood chairs and reimagines it using the latest material technology.
The S 220 was previewed at the Circolo Thonet installation during Milan Design Week 2022
“The design pushes the limits of what is technically possible using the material of moulded plywood, which has always been a driver of innovation at Thonet,” explains Creative Director Norbert Ruf. “The chair features an understated organic form as well as precise lines, and its moulded plywood shell delivers comfort and support.” The chair’s elegant hourglass shape means that the seat shell has just the right amount of give. A smoothly rounded front edge perfectly embodies the harmonious interplay of material quality, aesthetics and functionality characteristic of the S 220. This “waterfall edge”, as the designers call it, prevents pressure points, makes the chair more comfortable and picks up the radii of the tubular steel frame.
The S 220 (around the1818 table, foreground) was previewed at the Circolo Thonet installation during Milan Design Week 2022
“Our design creates an aesthetic conversation between the seat shell and the chair legs,” explains designer Sam Hecht. “This lends the seat shell a lovely softness, making it not only pleasing to touch but also incredibly comfortable to sit on. In terms of the material, the S 220 represents a gentle transition from bentwood to moulded plywood and tubular steel, creating a new form that looks familiar yet modern. The chair succeeds in positioning moulded plywood in its rightful place today: it is materially efficient with a convincing design language. It takes its cues from Thonet’s heritage yet is relevant today and for the future.