Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby De La Warr Pavillion Chair
The DLWP in Bexhill On Sea is one of Britain's most important
architectural icons. Eric Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff's 1935 design
is widely considered to be Britain's first built example of the
International architectural style.
As part of the vast restoration
project, in 2005 Barber & Osgerby were commissioned to design a chair that
could be used throughout the pavilion and Established & Sons were
chosen to be the manufactures. The distinctive skid leg of this chair
was created in response to the designers observation that many chairs,
particularly dining chairs, are first viewed from the rear.
Barber & Osgerby chose to use an enclosed volume; a fluid form rather than
a more usual leg type. This was also adopted as a clear contrast to the
De La Warr Pavilion's modernist, rectilinear volumes. The early
prototype for the chair was first unveiled during London's Design Week
in September 2005 and after a thorough and meticulous production period
to refine its complex details, this week will mark its much anticipated
arrival at the Pavilion.
The commission, which was greatly supported by
the Edward Marshall Trust, allowed Barber & Osgerby to flex their creative
skills whilst working closely with Established & Sons innovative
manufacturing structure to create an intriguing design which combines
tubular, pressure die cast and pressed aluminium components.
"Our
on-going and close working relationship with Established & Sons
enabled this project to develop way beyond a batch production chair for
the Pavilion into a serious technically challenging mass production
piece. This scale of production and rigor of the technical detail sits
very comfortably with the modernist ethos that motivated the
architecture of its parent building. It is down to Established &
Sons vision that this project came to fruition." (Jay Osgerby)
The chair
that will be installed at the Pavilion on 7th October has been produced
in a unique red hue exclusive to the De La Warr Pavilion. The
restaurant version is upholstered with the Skye fabric designed by
Barber & Osgerby for Bute. Whilst the external version has a powder-coated
finish, perforated seat and back, capable of enduring the high coastal
winds that it will be exposed to on the pavilion's outdoor terraces.
Design:
Edward Barber
Jay Osgerby
Year:
2006
Manufacturer:
Established & Sons
Edward Barber designs
Jay Osgerby designs
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