Simple in wood

Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa has created a new series of dining room products for Thonet, each element in the series being made of solid wood. The complete series was presented for the first time at the Milan furniture fair 2010. After the introduction of the 1130 dining table in 2009, the matching chairs of the 130 series are now available. Fukasawa has created a totally harmonious series by reinterpreting familiar forms in a sensitive and subdued manner that stays true to his goal of wanting to make existing things even better. For his designs he has used that most typical of the classic Thonet materials: solid wood.

Naoto Fukasawa developed the basic idea for the 130 chair series while looking at the classic Thonet bentwood chairs – not in terms of form, but in terms of the designer’s attitude behind the design:

- First, I perceived these chairs as design classics. But then I realised that their main quality lies in their sustainability and environmental friendliness: there is no material wastage, and the chairs are very lightweight, says Fukasawa.

- I deeply respect this and therefore I have tried to base my designs for Thonet on the same philosophy. I wanted to create something very simple, something uncomplicated for Thonet.

He also says:

- I always try to draw exactly the line that people imagine in their minds. With this design approach, I want to accommodate the people, the users. First, I try to understand and respect a company’s products. What you really have to achieve as a designer is to understand the soul of a brand. I always strive to develop the heritage embodied in a brand rather than to create something totally new.

The chair is avaliable in black, plain wood and a combination of colours, like wood and orange.