Hungerford, Berkshire, United Kingdom
American Prize for Design laureate Norman Foster has launched a new range of chairs to complement his existing OVO furniture collection for Benchmark Furniture Ltd.
Comprising an armchair, a stackable armless version, and a lounge seat, the soft, tactile forms match the overall aesthetic of the collection, marrying ergonomics with a clarity of form.
As wellbeing comes into sharper focus and the desire for warmer, more tactile furniture grows, the OVO chairs offer a solution that is suited to a variety of settings from office and commercial to domestic uses.
The design of the stackable version arises from a demand for flexible furniture that can be easily stored away after use. This light, armless version offers a seat for a range of uses such as meeting rooms, lecture halls, and other multipurpose spaces.
On the armchair, the tops of the armrests have a soft, pillowed finish and softened edges that widen to form the backrest. These armrests have been widened to form a support for a cup or a laptop on the lounge chair, with a deeper, more spacious seat, making it suitable for office lobbies, breakout spaces, or airline lounges.
The seat is designed in a modular fashion so that it can be replaced, with either solid timber or
an upholstered version available as standard. The latter comes with a choice of aniline leather, which has received Nordic Swan Ecolabel certification.
Rather than plastic foam, the fillings of the upholstered seats use organic lambswool, which has anti-microbial properties, is naturally breathable, and meets British fire standards without the application of toxic fire-retardant chemicals.
The OVO furniture range has been accredited by the International Living Future Institute as “LBC Red List Free” on its Declare label, guaranteeing that no toxic chemicals are used in its manufacture and that it does not emit harmful VOCs. This also means the OVO pieces meet the requirements for WELL Certified buildings.
Project: OVO furniture Collection
Architects: Foster + Partners
Manufacturer: Benchmark Furniture Ltd
