70-Series
Designed by:
Saarinen E
Co-Designed by:
-
Designer:
Eero Saarinen
Co-Designer:
-
Country of Origin (Designer):
USA
Date of Design:
1945-48
Date of Manufacture:
1948
Decade:
1940s
Region:
Americas
Significance:
Fibreglass-reinforced polyester
Manufacturer:
Knoll Associates
Country of Origin (Manufacturer):
USA
Material:
Polyester
Process:
Pressure moulded
Monobloc:
No
Cantilever:
No
Renewable Carbon:
No
ERPR Score:
NA
ERPR Rating:
NA
Weight:
Note:
In 1948, following three years of development, Eero Saarinen patented a series of chairs featuring shell seats made from moulded, glass-reinforced polyester with latex foam padding, shells balanced on four lacquered tubular steel legs. Three out of four models have been in continuous production with Knoll as the 70 series; the 70 (also known as the womb chair), the 71 and 72. The Model 73, a two-seater sofa, was discontinued shortly after it was introduced due to technical problems (the seat was not sufficiently supported, due to the width of the sofa and tended to sag in the middle). However, developments in injection moulding enabled Knoll to reintroduce the sofa in 2012.
In designing the chairs, Saarinen made many sketches to record how people actually sit in chairs. Next he used models to develop the shape of the curvilinear organic shells. It appears that it was the inability of traditional materials and production methods to recreate these shapes that drove Saarinen to use plastics, rather than a specific desire to experiment with new materials.
To develop the chairs, Saarinen engaged the assistance of Hudson Winner, of the Winner Manufacturing Company, a boat builder. The company was working on developing fire glass boats for the United States Navy. This meant Winner had access to the technology to develop strong and light press-moulded shells. Using a male and female dye, glass-reinforced polyester was moulded into the Saarinen designed shapes in a single piece, creating shells that offered both the flexibility needed to provide comfort and the resilience needed to retain shape.
Image Credit:
Knoll