by Brianna Crandall — June 19, 2013—Vitra, a Switzerland-based designer and manufacturer of contemporary furnishings, introduced two new office chairs among its offerings on display at the NeoCon 2013 contract furnishings show June 10-12. Physix and ID Air were both entrants in the Best of NeoCon Competition in the category of Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task.
With its combination of a flexible plastic frame, elastic knitted fabric and an integrated synchronizing mechanism, Physix, the new office chair designed by Milan-based Alberto Meda and developed by Vitra in Switzerland, explores the possibilities of dynamic sitting.
Vitra notes that Physix is the latest addition to a long line of iconic chairs in which seat and back form a continuum. Physix is based on the same idea as the 1956 Aluminium Chair by Charles and Ray Eames, which marked the first use of fabric, stretched under tension between two parallel aluminum profiles, to provide a mix of elasticity and support in the seat and back. But Physix significantly brings the typology into the field of office chairs. Using today’s state-of-the art materials and production methods, Alberto Meda uses an interplay of three factors to create a new, dynamic sitting experience: a flexible frame construction, an elastic knitted fabric cover, and a stabilizing mechanical unit.
Physix’s “elegant” frame takes advantage of modern plastics to achieve flexibility and stability, says Vitra. The organic side profiles, which are made of polyamide, can be bent in a way that mimics a flexible hinge, following the sitter as he leans back. Meda controls the elasticity of the slender profiles by dividing their cross-section into rigid and flexible zones. The flat armrests of the chair can be bent in a similar manner.
The multithreaded knitted fabric developed for the continuous seat and back of the Physix chair is highly stable, and its more compact zones provide necessary support in the lumbar area of the back. Yet the fabric’s elasticity allows for a three-dimensional bending of the shell, following the sitter’s movement smoothly in all directions, even diagonally. With its semi-transparent weave, the knitted fabric also contributes to the visual lightness of the chair and allows for nuanced color combinations.
Additional counterbalancing elements enable Physix to attain precise, synchronized movements between an upright and a backwards-leaning sitting position, adds Vitra. A pair of visually expressive aluminum brackets attached to the back of the chair independently transfer the movement of the frame to this spring mechanism, which is contained in a small box underneath the seat. As a result, the seat is designed to allow for exceptional freedom and to always follow the sitter back to his upright position.
With the introduction of the ID Chair Concept in 2010, Vitra says a new, subtle and elegant design entered the office space, providing “countless” possibilities for people to adapt the chair to their own individual needs in terms of function, comfort and look. Designed by Milan-based Antonio Citterio and developed by Vitra in Switzerland, two new versions now join the proven ID Chair Concept, bringing with them an innovative use of materials, as well as a new mechanism.
ID Air brings additional lightness and transparency without sacrificing comfort. The combination of an innovative plastic material for the one-piece back and the backrest’s elaborately calculated perforation allow for strength as well as flexibility, where needed, while simultaneously providing support in the places where it is necessary for healthy sitting, says Vitra. Taken together, this flexibility of the backrest and the effective air ventilation combined with a pleasantly soft seat cushion create a chair of superior comfort, adds the company. ID Air is an economical solution, but the chair also reportedly stands out with its high quality materials and workmanship, resulting in a durable everyday companion in the office.
ID Trim Cap helps to shield sitters from the surrounding distractions that characterize the everyday office. ID Trim L, a chair with an especially high backrest, has been expanded with a new variation: ID Trim Cap. Thanks to its protective “cap,” placed around the head of the user, this chair is especially convenient in today’s buzzing open space office because it shields its user both visually and acoustically, offering a place of instant retreat and concentration, says Vitra. Made of a new and sturdy industrial felt fabric, the cap comes in a variety of colors. In addition to FlowMotion, a newly developed mechanism—ProMatic—is now also available that automatically adapts to the weight of the user. A sitter thus only needs to adjust the seat height.
