Gold Furniture Design · 2022
Niemeyer II Armchair
- A' Design Award 2022 Gold Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2022
- CLIENT: InsidherLand
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 56,903
- Verification code 298CC8F1E5 · Verify this award
About Niemeyer II Armchair
Designed by Joana Santos Barbosa, the rounded forms of the Niemeyer II armchair are influenced by the modernist House of Canoas of Oscar Niemeyer. Having a refined design with architectural details, this armchair is minimal and yet a statement piece. The upholstery work is meticulous, with seams reduced to essential, in order to reproduce the backward movement of flat roof when seen from an aerial view. Upholstered in a special woven bouclé, this welcoming armchair receives people with a gentle embrace and feels the most comfortable place in the room.
The Niemeyer II Armchair by Joana Santos Barbosa emerges from a rich dialogue between mid-century organic modernism and contemporary material sensibilities, embodying principles of sculptural furniture design that prioritize the human form as generative template. This work suggests deep engagement with traditions established by designers who sought to dissolve boundaries between fine art and functional object, creating pieces that serve simultaneously as seating and as spatial sculpture. The continuous envelope of the upholstered body demonstrates sophisticated understanding of three-dimensional form-making, where backrest, arms, and seat flow as unified gesture rather than assembled components, inviting the sitter into an embrace that promises both physical support and psychological comfort. The selection of bouclé textile proves particularly astute, as its inherent texture introduces visual warmth and tactile allure while softening the bold sculptural statement into domestic accessibility. The wooden base grounds this otherwise floating form with craft tradition and material authenticity, its visible grain serving as reminder of natural origins and skilled fabrication. One observes how the designer has calibrated proportions to achieve monumentality within intimate scale, creating presence without overwhelming residential environments. The warm ivory and honey palette establishes an atmosphere of calm refinement, suggesting interiors dedicated to contemplation and genuine rest. The form language evokes natural phenomena, perhaps cloud formations or weathered stone, organic shapes refined by elemental forces over time. Viewers might consider how this work negotiates between the demands of functional furniture and the aspirations of sculptural art, asking what it means to design objects that nurture both body and spirit through considered form.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This is an armchair with a challenging design.
Having a strong narrative speaking behind its organic forms, the creative process was developed in a cohesive dialogue between the general rounded design and the focus on the correct location of the seams.
The symbolism is strong and so it’s the design itself. This armchair is almost minimal in its inner hidden complexity. Reduced to the essential, the design and the details create a graceful symbiosis between form and function. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions Height 86cm 33,86in Width 94cm 37,00in Depth 92cm 36,22in Seat Height 44cm 17,32in
- Tags
- roundarmchair, roundchair, chunkychair, modernchair, bouclechair
- Production Technology
- Fully handcrafted in the city of Porto, located in the North of Portugal, this armchair is produced by local artisans. The use of traditional techniques is applied to create new contemporary designs.
Product details
Upholstery in InsidherLand Woollen fabric
Base in oak finished in matt varnish - Design Challenge
- Challenges are part of the design process and a completely round armchair is no exception.
Inside, the wooden structure presents the necessary complexity for its clean exterior appearance. The construction process included several adjustments, both in the wooden structure and in the exact collation of the seams, to reach the final design, in which we find a total simplicity.
Another anticipated challenge was related to the stability of the chair. By reducing the contact of the base with the floor we were able to offer an enormous freedom to the design. However, several improvements have been defined for its stability.
This armchair is also available with a swivel option. - Project Duration
- It took about a year to create the armchair and was released in September 2019 at Maison and Objet in Paris.
- Operation Flow
- Having a refined design and meticulous upholstery work, the Niemeyer II armchair is a best-seller among the designs created by Joana Santos Barbosa.
It is a luxurious armchair that catches the eye of the public, being both a minimal design, yet a statement piece.
Upholstered in a special woven bouclé, this armchair receives people with a gentle embrace and feels the most comfortable place in the room. It is also available with a swivel option. - Research
- Being influenced by the assumptions modernist architecture such as freedom of forms and volumetric organicity, the goal was to create a free design. The handmade production was a process of adjustments between the free sketches, the technical drawings and the real scale modeling. The construction was carried out in full-scale prototypes. While upholstery was improved, the structure had to be adapted to the new demands. Since its launch, this armchair has quickly been a commercial success.
- Inspiration
- The rounded armchair is named after the Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer and its rounded forms are influenced by the House of Canoas designed in 1951.
The modern flat roof offers its flowing forms to the round seat. The backward movement of the curve that frames a large granite boulder is recreated by the location of the diagonal seams that flow all around the arms and seat of the armchair. Seen from above, it really recreates the exact movement into the comfortable seat. - Image Credits
- Video: InsidherLand
Images white background: InsidherLand
Image in a house ambience: Weco Gallery - Patents
- Copyright InsidherLand 2022, All Rights Reserved
Colors of Niemeyer II Armchair
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G0E22 ShopDesign Interview about Niemeyer II Armchair
The rounded forms of the Niemeyer II armchair are influenced by the House of Canoas designed by the Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1951.
The modern flat roof offers its flowing forms to the round seat. The backward movement of the curve that frames a large granite boulder is recreated by the location of the diagonal seams that flow all around the arms and seat of the armchair. Seen from above, it really recreates the exact movement into the seat.
The modern flat roof offers its flowing forms to the round seat. The backward movement of the curve that frames a large granite boulder is recreated by the location of the diagonal seams that flow all around the arms and seat of the armchair. Seen from above, it really recreates the exact movement into the seat.
Being influenced by the assumptions of modernist architecture such as freedom of forms and volumetric organicity, the goal was to create a free design. The design itself was easily created, however, the production required many adjustments to be made until the complete rounded image could be achieved.
The Niemeyer II armchair already is one of the best-sellers among my designs. I believe that, being an award-winning design, this beautiful armchair will be placed in so many more interiors around the world.
The Niemeyer II armchair was born out of the design of my original armchair named Niemeyer. Both armchairs have the same design principles. The first took about a year to be fully developed and this version was less than that, as my team learned a lot from the first experience.
I had a clear image in my mind that easily was transformed into a design.
The Niemeyer II armchair is one of the best-sellers among my designs and is produced by my team, located in the city of Porto in the north of Portugal. We sell this armchair all over the World.
Being obsessed by a particular idea is what makes me create all of my designs. In this case, it was a particular movement of a modernist rooftop.
I’m not much influence about design. I’m more interested in other sources such as art, architecture, music and mother nature.
Customers around the world that look for exquisite luxury pieces with an effortless sophisticated vibe.
I draw my designs mostly on paper and computer. However, no 3D tools were used to develop this armchair. The prototype evolution occurred at the factory with real scale models.
The Niemeyer II is a luxurious armchair that catches the eye of the public, being both a minimal design, yet a statement piece.
The Niemeyer II armchair is produced by my team of talented Portuguese artisans. They are the ones who make my goals come true by applying traditional techniques and so much knowledge into the production process.
No so much. The Niemeyer II armchair was completely developed by local artisans, using the knowledge of traditional techniques both in woodwork as in upholstery.
Challenges are part of the design process and a completely round armchair as Niemeyer II is no exception.
Inside, the wooden structure presents the necessary complexity for its clean exterior appearance. The construction process included several adjustments, both in the wooden structure and in the exact collation of the seams, to reach the final design, in which we find a total simplicity.
Another anticipated challenge was related to the stability of the chair. By reducing the contact of the base with the floor we were able to offer an enormous freedom to the design. However, several improvements have been defined for its stability.
This armchair is also available with a swivel option.
Inside, the wooden structure presents the necessary complexity for its clean exterior appearance. The construction process included several adjustments, both in the wooden structure and in the exact collation of the seams, to reach the final design, in which we find a total simplicity.
Another anticipated challenge was related to the stability of the chair. By reducing the contact of the base with the floor we were able to offer an enormous freedom to the design. However, several improvements have been defined for its stability.
This armchair is also available with a swivel option.
The Niemeyer II armchair is an iconic creation among my designs and features as one of the best-sellers. Winning an international design competition creates the right awareness around the design.
Well, what I’m reminded each time I create a new design; that perseverance is such an important quality!