With its elegant, organic curves, and reliance upon classic materials, the Domus lounge chair was first designed in 1946 but remains as compelling a piece of seating almost 80 years on. Available in a choice of four different finishes, the Domus was initially produced for use in a Helsinki student facility, but has since gone on to take on a life of its own, with its enduring popularity and appeal extending far wider than originally imagined. The wider Domus family features upholstered and dining chair variations.
Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara was one of the greatest interior architects and designers of his era. With the mind of an explorer and soul of a craftsman, Tapiovaara was always looking for ways to improve everyday objects. He embraced the principle of social equality and became a leading figure in the years after World War Two, when design was no longer seen as a luxury for the few.
A main characteristic of Tapiovaara's work was that he explored its possibilities through multiplicity - he created many versions of each of his designs and reissued them in different shapes.
Tapiovaara's most iconic work is his Domus Chair, a stackable plywood chair which he designed for Domus Academica, a new student housing facility in Helsinki.