Coconut Chair

Overview

The Coconut Chair is the lounge chair that George Nelson designed in 1955. Vitra's page says Nelson himself compared it with an eighth of a sectioned coconut and reversed the colours: a white shell outside, a one-piece upholstery inside.

Construction

• Glass fibre reinforced plastic shell in white, with one-piece polyurethane foam padding
• Base of tubular steel, polished chrome
• Seat height 295 mm (255 mm with applied load)

Specifications

• Fact sheet drawing: 1020 mm across the front, 825 mm deep, 835 mm high
• Covers: Hopsak, Leather and Leather Premium F, 73 colours in all

An eighth of a coconut

Vitra's page credits the comparison of the Coconut Chair to an eighth of a sectioned coconut to George Nelson himself. Its fact sheet calls the chair a prime example of 1950s design, with humorous undertones, formal clarity and a sparing use of materials.

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

A shell for many positions

By evoking the natural, spacious shape of a shell, the fact sheet says, Nelson created an inviting and comfortable armchair that lets the sitter assume a wide range of positions. The colour scheme is reversed: the shell is white and the cushion carries the colour.