Design classics celebrate a revival on the furniture market and are considered fashionable, which is actually the opposite. Timeless pieces of furniture are referred to as modern and the reason for this is basically due to the style cult or striving to be stylish. Design classics are basically made in large number of furniture that have not lost any validity over the years. They are simple, functional and resistant, so fit in every living ambience. For a design classic chair, concise shape, robust materials, reduced colors and uncompromising quality is characteristic. We present butterfly chair.
The model should be simple, but also functional. Butterfly Chair completely meets these requirements and expands them in a practical way - it is foldable. Even known as BKF Chair or bat armchair, he sticks to the practical from the start. His predecessor, only presented in 1880s, was a camping chair with a frame made of wood and steel for military camps. James B. Fendy created a breakthrough with his chair 'Tripola' or 'Tripolina' Chair.
In 1938 a new draft was carried out, which is already considered the 'birth' of the butterfly chair. The Argentine Architecture Bureau Austral Group, which worked with Le Corbusier, reinterpreted the camping chair and added it to the furnishing of an apartment building in Buenos Aires. The chair was called BKF after the first letters of the designers - Antonio Bonet, Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari Hardy. After the presentation of the chair in Buenos Aires on the third 'Salon de Artistas Decoradoresinterior' Design exhibition, it is recognized by Moma. Some sticks are also part of the equipment of the famous 'Fallingwater' House of Frank Loyd Wright.
How a real design piece becomes from a camping chair depends on more than pure happiness. It is not only purely functional, his design addresses people from different layers. Therefore, a design is very popular, often copied in this chain of thought. Knoll received the license of the BKF chair in 1947, nevertheless not reduced the counterfeits and was forced to cease production.
After its original production, at that time from Knoll, the chair was published several times again and again, of course with deteriorated qualitative properties. Aluminum frame and fabric cushions do not ensure a comfortable seat, do not correspond to the reservations of the designers, Bonet, Kurchan and Ferrari-Hardoy, which have now been forgotten. What does the original piece draw from the fake:
- Frame-made of iron, coated or chrome-plated with epoxy lacquer, fixed with four weld seams
- Seat made of four parts of natural leather, not thinner than 1.6 mm, reinforced from behind (the special cut results in a cave that ensures seating comfort)
- Stability and balance of the chair
It is not for nothing that the butterfly chair has received the design classic award. He deserved, proven this in time and remained true to their practical use. It was used by the military as a camping chair 'Tripolina' because it is slightly portable. As an Austral Group BKF, he dragged the attention of Le Corbusier, who is known to be known to minimalist and sustainable design in any sense, and therefore put a push. Although with significantly poor quality, copies from $ 25 were to be bought, which quickly appeared at Hippies festivals in the 1960s - 70s. The reason for this is not due to the award he won, but because of the functional design that is useful.
57 years after the production of Knoll, MoMA spent 75 new special copies, re-editions for his 75th anniversary. These got an up date with a powder-coated black stainless steel frame and cover made of cowhide. The Butterfly Chair has been experiencing its revival since 2010 when the Argentine designer Bárbara Giménez Weinbaum recorded its production. She herself designed a BKF chair with two seats and analog design. In 2013 he was awarded Red Dot by MoMA, with whom he already shares a common story.
The model offers comfortable, informal sitting and, due to its casual, unobtrusive appearance, can really be used in every area, suitable for every living ambience. As a typical midcency furniture, he is often preferred by young people due to his uncomplicated appearance. The other day there are also several variants for execution as well as the frame, as well as the seating substance. You can choose from sails or leather in natural colors. Optionally, a steel frame is painted in black or white. By using modern, more robust materials, it can be set up inside and outside.
Over time, the model not only changed visually, but also referred to them technically. Its original dimensions, in the production of Knoll, do not correspond to the scale of contemporary people, so it has grown with a few centimeters. The other day, it is optimized to meet the high demands of the modern user. So it is not astonishing that he appears in homes and offices from time to time.
The current variant can also be easily used in the outdoor area. Optionally, there are additional removable, washable in-outdoor suitable upholstery covers and are available in several happy colors. The material is breathable and mold resistance, which promises long -lasting use. The frame can simply be folded and thus saved space -saving if the chair is not needed. Depending on the use, it is also designed for inside and powder -coated for outside.
Conditions are suitable for internal use of color-right leather and suede (cognia color) or on request in other colors. Other variant would be made of natural -colored or black sailing fabric. It is the perfect piece of furniture that gives the stylish connection between several living styles in the room.
How multifaceted this model is actually and interesting design ideas can be found in the picture.