I need to sit up when I read. A bed or a couch makes me promptly fall asleep. A straight-backed chair proves uncomfortable for extended reading sessions. Thus I’ve been on a never-ending quest for the perfect reading chair. When I first laid eyes on Claesson Koivisto Rune’s Isola chair, I immediately thought it might be The One.
For the time being, I’ve settled on a Bertoia Diamond chair, and it’s great. But I’m not entirely sold on it as a reading chair. Maybe it’s just a bit too small, or just not quite cosy enough, but whatever the reason, I still have my eyes open for the chair.
The Isola chair’s design is neither too modern, nor is it too classic-looking. It’s big and spacious, but isn’t a hulking, ungainly, room-dominating mass. It sits at a relaxed angle, but not so much that it encourages napping. And that arm table is perfect for holding books, mags, iPads and coffee (though maybe not all at the same time?). Here’s what the designers had to say to design site David Report:
While using these devices in many public or semi-private situations, we noticed that seating postures change. People tend to lounge around, seeking unconventional positions and generally sitting in a more relaxed fashion. As a response to this, we designed a wide and roomy seat-shell with a gently-organic shape lacking an obvious direction. Combined with an integrated, oval tabletop, Isola moves away from other more rigid solutions and encourages more open and intuitive use, says Claesson Koivisto Rune.
Given that this chair just made its debut at Paris’ Maison d’Objet show, and is manufactured by Italian maker Tacchini, I’m sure it costs an arm and a leg. But that doesn’t stop me from longing after it from a healthy distance. [CoDesign and David Report]