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Vitra presenta «Eames Lounge Chair Atelier» ad Arkeda

As part of the activities dedicated to the theme of originals, Vitra is pleased to announce that it will present the «Eames Lounge Chair Atelier» installation in Naples from 1 to 3 December 2017 on the occasion of Arkeda, conference exhibition dedicated to architecture, editor and design.

The original

Good design is never a coincidence: it is always the result of hard work. Vitra designs its products in collaboration with designers, by Vitra called authors. Each product is the result of a collaborative effort on the part of the author and the producer: designers bring their own ideas and creative vision, while the producers make their know-how and experience available. Every Vitra product is an original. And each original has its own story. The aim of the activities related to the theme of the originals is to tell these stories. Through the Lounge Chair Atelier, Vitra wishes to celebrate one of the most iconic Vitra originals, the Eames Lounge Chair offering the opportunity to delve deeper into the fascinating story, the complex production and the richness of the materials.

Lounge Chair & Ottoman Design: Charles & Ray Eames, 1956

The Eames Lounge Chair is one of the great classics of modern furniture and one of the most famous pieces by the designer couple Charles and Ray Eames. The Eames created it in the 1950s with the aim of creating an elegant armchair capable of offering maximum comfort. Vitra has always produced the Lounge Chair using practically the same manufacturing techniques as back then. “Why not make a modern version of the old English club chair?” With this inspiration Charles Eames began to develop the Lounge Chair during a creative process that lasted many years. To illustrate the basic idea to Ray, he placed one hand on the other without saying a word. He had imagined a comfortable armchair composed of organically shaped shells that supported inviting padded cushions into which he could sink. Charles Eames resorted to an image taken from the world of sport: the Lounge Chair cushions should have “the warm and welcoming look of a used baseball glove”. The resulting design responded to the desire for a chair of large proportions capable of combining maximum comfort with the highest level of material quality and craftsmanship. 'Design could be described as a plan to arrange elements so as to best serve a particular purpose.’ This is how the Eameses once described their conception of design. The Lounge Chair is a prime example of this philosophy: its complex structure is expertly studied down to the smallest detail and is still needed today 47 production stages – most of which require considerable craftsmanship – to make a chair, exactly like the first models 50 years ago.

La Lounge Chair, Vitra and the Eames

Vitra has been producing the furniture designed by Charles and Ray Eames since 1957. The close relationship between Charles and Ray Eames and Vitra has had a lasting influence on the company's projects and design philosophy. Today the Eames family and Vitra collaborate to preserve the legacy of Charles and Ray Eames by continuing to implement their goals and ideals. This ensures that each piece of furniture gives the user the exact design experience originally intended by Charles and Ray Eames. Vitra is the only manufacturer authorized to produce the furniture and accessories designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Europe and the Middle East. Vitra has been producing the Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames since 1959. Charles and Ray Eames redesigned the chair base for the launch of production at Vitra, giving it a more balanced shape that still distinguishes this model. For five decades Vitra has produced the Lounge Chair in Weil am Rhein using the same methods. Currently, multiple combinations of finishes are proposed, which include various types of leather upholstery, shells of different woods and different base options. With its functional perfection and its skilful structure, timeless materials and balanced proportions, the Lounge Chair has established itself over its sixty-year history as one of the most iconic classics – a product of another era that remains forever relevant.

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Creating innovative products and concepts with great designers represents the very essence of Vitra. Vitra products are made in Switzerland and installed around the world by architects, companies and private users to create public areas and inspiring spaces to live in, working and shopping and public areas. With its 'classics', Vitra represents the innovative design of the 20th century. Combining technical and conceptual skills with the creativity of contemporary designers, today Vitra increasingly pushes the boundaries of design. Family-run business for eighty years, Vitra believes in relationships with customers, collaborators and designers, in durable products, in sustainable growth and the power of good design.

Charles e Ray Eames

Charles (1907–1978) e Ray (1912–1988) Eames ranks among the major design figures of the 20th century. Their vast and multifaceted work is the result of an extraordinarily fruitful collaboration. During the four decades of their collaboration, they not only created many pioneering furniture projects but also important buildings, exhibitions, film, graphic works and a vast number of photographs. The combination of quality and diversity of their works is the basis of their historical relevance and uniqueness. They profoundly influenced the concept of design and the role and conception of the designer.

Campus Vitra

The Campus Vitra di Weil am Rhein, near Basel, it is a complex of unique contemporary architecture. Design enthusiasts and experts can visit the Campus to discover the buildings designed by some of the world's greatest architects, admire the ongoing exhibitions in the four museum locations, visit the Lounge Chair Atelier and observe the artisanal fabrication of this design by Charles & Ray Eames has become a great classic, as well as finding inspiration for your home at VitraHaus, the Vitra flagship store.

Current Exhibition

Il 29 September, to the Vitra Campus, inaugurated “The World of Charles & Ray Eames”, retrospective that shows the different facets of the work carried out by two of the most important designers of the 20th century. The focus of the exhibition is inside the Vitra Design Museum, but other installations are also present at the Vitra Design Gallery, the Fire Station and the Schaudepot.

Charles and Ray Eames ©Eames Office LLC, Photomontage: Wasteful, Berlin

Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein ©Vitra

VitraHause ©Vitra

Eames Lounge Chair Design: Charles & Ray Eames (1956)

Laura Maifreni
PR Italy
Tel: +39 0362 3591
Cell. 3356926112
laura.maifreni.ext@vitra.com
www.vitra.com