'Portique' armchair by Florent Coirier (FR)
Inspired by the form and function of garden swings, the French-Polish Paris-based designer Florent Coirier has created this metal-and-wood chair called ‘Portique.’ Created in collaboration with the local craftsmen from the Autonomous Port, Nantes/Saint-Nazaire, the design has been developed in materials frequently used in shipbuilding such as aluminium and nautical rope from which the chair’s solid oak seat is suspended.
'Portique' armchair by Florent Coirier
Here’s what the designer says about the armchair:
‘I have made this prototype together with the craftsmen of the Autonomous Port,GPM Nantes/Saint-Nazaire. Drawing on the expertise of boilermakers and carpenters workshops, the chair uses materials common to shipbuilding. The aluminum tube is bent and used its light properties, creating an illusion compared to the apparent strength of the tubes. The traditional natural rope, is replaced by the nautical rope in polyester and polyamide, stronger and more varied in choice of colors. The wooden board is retained, but treated in a noble solid wood (oak gross). This chair plays with the archetypes of garden games, and refers directly to our childhood feelings.’
'Portique' armchair by Florent Coirier
The strong, polyester and polyamide nautical rope used in the design
The 'making of' the armchair by Florent Coirier; photo courtesy of the designer
The aluminium tube has been used for its 'light properties'; photo courtesy of the designer
The aluminium frame of the 'Portique' armchair by Florent Coirier; photo courtesy of the designer
'Portique' armchair by Florent Coirie in use
