Porta Volta
Herzog & de Meuron's chair with a U-shaped solid wood back that extends into armrests.
635 × 710 × 540 mm
Source: spec sheet PDF — PSE1 dining chair — published as W 63.5 × D 54 × H 71 cm
2023
Description
Overview
Porta Volta (2023) is a chair by Herzog & de Meuron for Molteni&C. The page describes a solid wood back curved in a U-shape, with a floating backrest that extends to form armrests, and a seat that is upholstered. It comes in two sizes: the higher one at 71 cm for dining, the low one at 66 cm for a living or sitting room.
Construction
Three U-frames with a curved finger joint connect the back to the lower frame and legs. The legs and back tilt slightly outwards. The datasheet lists a solid wood structure with a plywood support and variable-density polyurethane padding for the seat and backrest, under a bonded velveteen cover.
Specifications
- PSE1 dining chair: 63.5 cm wide, 54 cm deep, 71 cm high
- PSB1 low chair: same plan sizes, 66 cm high
- Frame: stained solid ash in five finishes, or solid American walnut
Story
A chair with an armrest
The page quotes Jacques Herzog on how the studio has usually designed furniture "spontaneously, intuitively", with place names in the titles, and calls Porta Volta an exception: "I wanted to design a chair with an armrest because there are hardly any that I like." In the same quotation he says he wanted it to be comfortable, welcoming and commodious, "Like a room to sit down in, rather than just sitting down on something."
The Israel reading room
The datasheet places the chair in a new chapter of the collaboration between Molteni&C and the architecture firm, a long-standing partner of the Molteni Group. A special edition is to be used in the reading room of the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, designed by the Basel-based firm, in which UniFor, an associate of Molteni&C, is also involved.
