“Tulip” chair by Eero Saarinen by Knoll

Conceived in 1957 by designer Eero Saarinen and produced by Knoll International, the Tulip chair is one of the designer's signature creations. Now a design classic, the Tulip chair is reminiscent of a flower shape, more specifically a tulip leaf. Its base is typical of 1970s design. This object is considered today as one of the flagship objects of industrial design. It is a modern-style chair, made with experimental materials at the time. In this article, we will try to present this superb model to you as best as possible. This chair is designed so that the aluminum leg gradually transforms into the seat, which is made of fiberglass. The chair is curved; there are no straight lines or right angles. The line from the legs to the seat is fluid. He wanted to innovate by creating a one-piece chair; the leg and seat therefore form a visual unit. The lines of the seat and its fine, organic shapes free up space at the base. This facilitates the user's leg movement, as it is not hindered by a bulky base taking up space. Made with experimental materials of its time, the chair's shell is made of molded fiberglass, reinforced with polyester, covered with a removable polyurethane foam cushion. The tulip-shaped central base is made of lightweight, molded cast aluminum, protected by a Rilsan coating. These materials greatly facilitate maintenance.