The Italian luxury furniture house Cassina has designed a geometric armchair that pays homage to the iconic Dutch architect of the early twentieth century, Gerrit Rietveld.
The new Utrecht armchair was originally made by Gerrit Rietveld back in 1935, who designed it specifically for the department store Metz & Co. Almost 100 years later, Cassina celebrates this historic design with a contemporary, reconceptualized version. The new Utrecht armchair is made for large-scale distribution and can be easily assembled. It comes disassembled in four puzzle-like parts - a seat, back, and two armrests. The configuration of this design lends a very geometric and angular aesthetic.
The design speaks to the Dutch art movement of neoplasticism - otherwise known as De Stijl - which favors bright colors and austere geometric shapes.
Geometric Armchair Pastiches
Cassina's New Design Pays Homage to Gerrit Rietveld's Utrecht Chair
Trend Themes
1. Contemporary Furniture Design - There is potential for other luxury furniture brands to incorporate modern, geometric design techniques to revamp iconic pieces.
2. Sustainable Manufacturing - Furniture companies can utilize innovative, sustainable materials that align with geometric design to reduce environmental impact.
3. Art Movement Revival - Designers can tap into different art movements, such as Neoplasticism, to create contemporary home furnishings with a nostalgic touch.
Industry Implications
1. Luxury Furniture - Luxury furniture can benefit from exploring and restoring iconic designs from the past.
2. Sustainability - Sustainability is an important aspect of furniture design that can be incorporated using innovative manufacturing processes and materials.
3. Art and Design - Art and design industries can learn from the geometric and neoplasticism movements to create modern, yet nostalgic pieces.