Circa Armchair

Overview

Circa is a tip-up seat designed by Rafael Moneo and created for the Auditorio Nacional de Cataluña in Barcelona. Poltrona Frau says it also furnishes the Banco de España and the Prado Museum in Madrid, which it takes as proof of how well the seat adapts to different technical requirements.

Image source: Poltrona Frau — Circa Armchair · © Poltrona Frau and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

• Backrest: painted moulded aluminium
• Seat: curved solid wood, automatic tip-up
• Structure: backrest and seat are separate structures
• Covering: Pelle Frau® leather, a fabric or velvet

Versions

• Circa Auditorio: rubber elbow rests
• Circa Kursaal: metal elbow rests covered in leather, with an optional foldaway writing table

From a concert hall to museums

The page links the seat to its first home, the Auditorio Nacional de Cataluña in Barcelona, for which Rafael Moneo designed it. It adds that the same seat now furnishes the Banco de España and the Prado Museum in Madrid, and reads this as a sign of its adaptability to different technical requirements.

Two versions

Circa comes as Circa Auditorio, with rubber elbow rests, and as Circa Kursaal, whose metal elbow rests are covered in leather and which can also carry a foldaway writing table. The page notes that seats can be installed in straight or curved rows.