Know Your Chairs: The Panton Chair

Aside from vivid, vibrant, psychedelic interiors in the 60s and 70s, Verner Panton created quite an array of mind-bogglingly modern seating in his years as a designer. But none of them can surpass the popularity of the eponymously titled Panton chair.

The deliberate sensuality of the curvy, S-shape keeps the design from being sterile. Created from a single piece of molded plastic, the chair is stackable and, of course, quite durable.

Of course they look good in a sleek, modern setting, but they also look good mixed in with vintage pieces. Remember Design Mantra #1, "Contrast brings interest."

Above: Design, styling, and photography by Emily McCall. Photo used by permission.

Black Panton chair lurking behind the table...

The iconic has inspired modifications and other designers as well.

St. Bartlomiej Church in the Czech Republic was designed by Maxim Velcovsky and Jakub Berdych from Qubus Studio and features Panton chairs instead of pews!

The Him and Her chair by Fabio Novembre was inspired by Panton. It's a logical extension of the sunsuous form.

Vitra UK's National Panton Chair Competition in 2010 asked designers and architects to modify or reimagine the Panton chair. First place went to Jump Studios for their highly conceptual (and non-functioning) design of a hollowed the Panton chair strungt with fishing line.

Although Verner Panton died in 1998, there is an online museum of his work at:
http://www.vernerpanton.com/
His interiors are amazing and look like sets from sci-fi films in the 70s.

And of course his chairs can still be purchased through:
Vitra, the company that originally produced the chair and
Design Within Reach

Happy designing!