Dezeen Magazine

Six minimal seats from designjunction 2019 that show less is more

From a chair made from layers of sheep wool to a sofa designed for the circular economy, we've selected six of the best simple, yet effective, seating designs shown at designjunction.

Held annually as part of London Design Festival, which took place this year from 14 and 22 September,   the designjunction trade show showcased furniture, lighting and accessories.

A key theme of this year's fair was sustainability, with many brands presenting furniture made from recycled materials and products assembled from as little components as possible.

Designjunction also outlined in the show guide what visitors can do to "be more sustainable", such as choosing public transport, seeking out plant-based meals and taking reusable water bottles.

Read on for our pick of six simple seating designs that demonstrate less is often more:


designjunction 2019

Oval armchair by Ed Carpenter and André Klauser for Very Good & Proper

Ed Carpenter and André Klauser showcased a metal frame version of the Oval Armchair by British furniture manufacturer Very Good & Proper.

The Oval armchair family, which originally featured a chair with curved plywood sides and integrated arms, has been updated to include a dusty pink seat that sits on a frame crafted from powder-coated steel tubes.


designjunction 2019

Hembury Chair by Solidwool

Devon-based duo Solidwool showcased a more sustainable composite material at this year's designjunction, which has been used to make a shell chair.

Sharing similarities to fibreglass, the Solidwool material is made from layers of compacted coarse, low-value British wool that would otherwise be thrown away, which has been bound together with an epoxy-based bio-resin.

The chair's shell – which comes in natural dark grey or a choice of three colours, sits on a matt black powder-coated steel frame, with wooden legs available in either a natural ash or black scorched ash finish.


designjunction 2019

Shell chair by Barber & Osgerby for Isokon Plus

This "paper-thin" plywood Shell chair by London design studio Barber & Osgerby has been formed from a folded sheet material, and assembled without any mechanical fixings.

Initially designed in 2004 as the "last piece in the plywood puzzle" to accompany the Shell table, the Shell chair has been re-engineered and reissued in natural wood to better reveal the craftsmanship and joining techniques.


designjunction 2019

Sofa ForLife by Designed ForLife

Billed as the first sofa for the circular economy, the Sofa ForLife is made from renewable materials that have been chosen to extend its lifetime, as well as enable repair, reuse and remanufacturing.

The frame has been made from European birch plywood – a fast-growing hardwood – while the textiles used are naturally fire retardant, consisting mainly of wool and flax. Additionally the cushions are made from a layer of coconut coir topped with a layer of Comforel, a material made from recycled plastic bottles.

When the sofa comes to the end of its life, it can be disassembled into its material components, which can be used or recycled.


designjunction 2019

675 Chair by Robin Day for Case Furniture

Originally created in 1952 by British industrial designer Robin Day for Case Furniture, the 675 chair has a curved walnut-veneered plywood back that curves into armrests. This shape is been formed from a single piece of wood – a pioneering element when it was first created.

Following Case Furniture's recent 675 chair charity auction, which saw 15 textile designers put their own spin on the chair's fabric, Case took the product back to its roots at designjunction with new cream and black leather upholstery options.


designjunction 2019

Pino chair by John Tree for Very Good & Proper

Created by British designer John Tree for Very Good & Proper, this simple stacking chair is comprised of a single plywood shell with a solid wooden frame.

This design enables a hidden fixture at the junction between the chair's backrest and its frame, offering a secure construction with clean lines, while emphasising its minimal silhouette.