Fjord, armchair
by Patricia Urquiola, 2002

From a piece of seashell, which has been broken and smoothed by the waves, Patricia Urquiola has designed a collection of seats for both the home and public spaces. As the name suggests, there is a strong Scandinavian influence with references to Arne Jacobsen and the inlets of northern coastlines represented in the long cut-away. Like a natural cycle where the shell is reborn through the effects of time and water, the chair becomes armchair and then stool. Its broken form and abstract concept together become an object of design: smooth lines that support and envelop are picked out in decorative stitching in harmony with the essence of the chair’s structure.