The 675 Chair by Robin Day, Emblem of 20th Century Design

Robin Day, considered one of the great figures of English design, was a pioneer in his field. In 1952, he was able to go beyond the difficulty of forming a chair with armrests using a single piece of plywood – by creating a curved shape with the help of a singular inclination rather than the usual double curve, he brought the world the 675 Chair. A work that appears as a manifesto of design that uses technical dimensions in theory and practice, Robin Day conceived of a molded back equipped with armrests using a single unit that would fulfill both functions. The aesthetics of the 675 chair were thus born. By offering a subtle equilibrium between sculptural beauty, great comfort, and optimal support, the piece is able to be both classic and innovative.

“A very successful piece must correctly fulfill its function. Its construction must be solid and its design must be the reflection of these two elements,” specifies Robin Day. When a rerelease of the 675 chair came out in 2015, it was awarded with a prestigious Design Guild Mark Award – this piece is indeed a fitting summary of the entire field. This year on May 27, the icon was exclusively reinvented by the store Case. With a special edition featuring a seat embroidered with the emblematic Mourne Check fabric – a mixture of linen, wool, and cotton woven on the original looms from the 50s – a black tubular steel base ties it all together, and the 675 chair takes on post-modernity with a charm that’s beyond desirable.

An emblematic emblem of the 20th century thus finds an appreciated echo in the 21st; the 675 chair by Robin Day is anchoring itself in our era with an ease that could only be achieved by an object as timeless as this one. This perfectly balanced piece is today available in three colors. The new collection of 675 chairs remains very limited nevertheless, since only 50 copies are available in each color. Even better, rereleased with its original dimensions and specifications from the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation, this edition is composed with the back and armrests made of molded concave walnut plywood. Check it out now at The Conran Shop in Paris.

 

The designer Robin Day is also the creator of the Leo Chair.