Place: A Poetic and Essential Chair

Award-Winning Design by Gae Avitabile

Place stands out from other chairs with its distinctive features and strengths. It combines a reassuring feeling of security with a joyous lightness, creating a truly unique piece. The chair's form and function are carefully crafted to provide a sense of comfort and playfulness.

The realization of Place involves stretching textile over a metal framework, with minimal PU foam and colored laminate wood. The overall dimensions of the chair are 580 mm (W), 540 mm (D), and 800 mm (H).

Place is not just a chair; it is a fantasy, a free game, an outgoing traveler. It invites surprise and captures the impact of dreams. Avitabile believes that we need more beauty and poetry in our lives, and Place embodies these qualities.

The design process for Place took place between 2011 and 2012 in Paris and Caserta. Extensive research was conducted to combine soft signs and warm materials harmoniously. Avitabile's goal was to create a chair that could be produced on a large scale, making it accessible to a wider audience.

The design of Place presented several challenges that were overcome through creative problem-solving. The metal framework had to be lightweight yet structurally strong, while ensuring that all manufacturing processes met the same tolerances. The chair's upholstery and laminated wood components also required careful attention to detail.

Place is a poetic and essential chair that combines refined technical design with traditional finishes. It tells a story through its shapes and colors, capturing the essence of what makes a place distinctive. In 2014, Place was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category. This prestigious accolade recognizes well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements.