After a few hours of sitting on a work chair made of wood and steel like those customarily used by people in industry and workshops you get the distinct impression that this solution is far from perfect. The seat area and back element are too rigid and too hard, while the whole structure lacks a holistic concept.
Now, with the "S1" for Wagner Living, Sven von Boetticher has created a brilliant contemporary version of the classic swivel chair.
The reduced shape does not immediately reveal the sophisticated technology it relies on as it is so cleverly integrated: A completely new structure provides concealed mounting for the Dondola joint (patent pending) and no further support is needed for it.
Instead, two synthetic extensions provide the suspension and pushback. “We use the elastic element of the mechanism for the lateral support of the Dondola device,” explains Peter Wagner, who together with his brother Rainer Maria are members of the third generation of the family to run the run business. Specially developed joints and suspension solutions create three-dimensional movement solely from the chair’s shape and material.
“There has not been anything like this before,” says Sven von Boetticher. Although the frame is so pared down and reduced to the essentials it still offers the advantages of three-dimensional sitting, thus uncoupling the rigid connection to the chair base and inducing minimal movements which consequently relieves strain on the spinal cord. Another aspect that contributes to this balance between maximum comfort and sufficient surface is that the backrest has a slightly curved shape so as to provide ideal support for people with a range of different body shapes.
“We reworked the backrest thousands of times until it was perfect and did not feel uncomfortable anywhere,” says Peter Wagner.