Barcelona chair Low-poly 3D model

cgtrader

The Barcelona chair is designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich as an ultimate form of high-end seating. Its initial use was in the German Pavilion, Germany's official entry for the 1929 International Exposition held in Barcelona, Spain, a region known for its rich cultural heritage in Catalonia. First seen at Villa Tugendhat, a UNESCO-listed structure designed by Mies van der Rohe in Brno, Czech Republic, the chair has undergone significant redesigns to meet evolving design preferences. In 1950, the frame was revamped using stainless steel, enabling manufacturers to craft seamless metal pieces that provide an unparalleled smoothness. As a result, Bovine leather replaced the ivory pigskin used for earlier models, showcasing its modern sophistication. While Bauhaus-era architects and furniture designers strove to create well-designed homes and furnishings accessible to the general public, the Barcelona chair stands as a deliberate exception, specifically designed for Spain's royalty to supervise exhibition ceremonies. Time magazine aptly described it as being at home in Spanish nobility's German pavilion. Some experts suggest that the design may have been influenced by Roman Curule chairs - elegant stools reserved for the elite. According to Knoll Inc., the manufacturers of Barcelona chairs since 1953, these seats may look industrial but actually require substantial manual craftsmanship. Two steel options are available - chrome and stainless - both used in the production process. Interestingly, while other global companies also produce and market similar chairs under different names, each original Knoll Barcelona chair bears a genuine reproduction of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's signature, highlighting its exclusivity. Notably, the iconic design is the subject of satire in Tom Wolfe's book "From Bauhaus to Our House", published in 1981. Wolfe humorously criticizes how the chair has become an indispensable status symbol among young architects: When a couple sees the holy Barcelona chair on their sisal rug, they know that sacrificing everything for its presence was worth it. The revered piece signifies the epitome of a mission accomplished in home decor - nothing less than divine elegance achieved through human determination and architectural excellence.