BA 1171, Bofinger-Stuhl
Designed by:
Bätzner H
Co-Designed by:
-
Designer:
Helmut Bätzner
Co-Designer:
-
Country of Origin (Designer):
Germany
Date of Design:
1964-65
Date of Manufacture:
1966
Decade:
1960s
Region:
Europe
Significance:
First production monobloc
Manufacturer:
Menzolit-Werke Albert Schmidt
Country of Origin (Manufacturer):
Germany
Material:
Polyester
Process:
Pressure moulded
Monobloc:
Yes
Cantilever:
No
Renewable Carbon:
No
ERPR Score:
NA
ERPR Rating:
NA
Weight:
4
Note:
The Bofinger chair was the world’s first monobloc chair to make it into production. Ever since Douglas Simpson displayed his prototype for a monobloc chair in 1946 the race had been on to develop a chair that could be produced in one piece, minimising both the use of resources and the cost of manual labour. Helmut Bätzner was commissioned to design a new home for the Staatstheater Karlsruhe in Karlsruhe (the 20,000 sq m building was completed in 1975).
To complete the commission a chair was needed for the foyer, cafe and terrace. Design of the Bofinger chair then started in 1964 and was developed through a series of experiments to identify the thinnest possible material thickness as the final product had to be light, stackable and weather resistant. Special attention was given to the double v-shaped legs and triangular feet developed to maximise strength, while minimising the footprint. Fibreglass reinforced polyester was chosen as the material and moulds were made to facilitate the moulding process. Bofinger was selected as the manufacturer due to their experience in the moulding process. The Managing Director (whose name was ultimately given to the chair) could immediately see the potential of the proposed design and authorised the required investment to produce the ten ton press.
Image Credit:
1st Dibs