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Konstantin Grcic has recently completed a bench for BD Barcelona Design. Launched at IMM Cologne, Bench B is a modular system that was originally inspired by the shapely, wrought-iron benches of Rome – the designer spent time on a bursary at the German Academy in the city. But Bench B clearly also nods in the direction of Mies van der Rohe’s famous Barcelona chair. On the resemblance, Grcic says: “I had to find my own peace with the similarity. I have great respect for the classics, but it’s almost become an easy formula, just reworking those designs. “There’s nothing to be said against that in principle, but for myself I think that it shouldn’t be that easy. I need to have my own process of arriving at the end result, which makes sense so that I can then accept how this process went from the original inspiration to drawings to the finished bench.” Formed from extruded aluminium leg and seat elements, Grcic’s sculptural chair drags van der Rohe’s design into the 21st century. The modular system means that Bench B can be made to any length, so it can be a one-seater chair or a 6m-long bench. Ergonomics were also one of Grcic’s concerns, and the chair can be fitted with optional armrests and upholstery. To the perennial question: “Why another chair?”, Grcic has a thoughtful and surprising response. “I have different answers,” he says. “I think it’s important to ask that question. We should always ask that question before we design another chair. “And the answer is usually something along the lines of: where is it used and in what way? Another chair for another company and that’s what they do, what they live off. Making another chair in another design in different proportions for another use.” |
Image Sánchez & Montoro
Words Crystal Bennes |
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