Crisscross Klappstuhl

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Most folding chairs are designed to be lightweight and portable for temporary use and give up quality, comfort and appeal. The Crisscross chair provides flexible seating without sacrificing quality. Designed as an everyday use chair, the Crisscross chair folds so it can be stored or easily relocated to another room. A geared mechanism concealed within the back leg creates a synchronized motion with the seat and legs. When folded, the entire chair nests within the front legs making it easy to relocate to another room or store for another time.

Dimensions & Packaging

Dimensions - Open
23” x 23.75” x 34.5”
585mm x 600mm x 875mm

Dimensions - Folded
23” x 8” x 41.5”
585mm x 200mm x 1,055mm

Tags

folding chair, chair, dining chair

Production Technology

The Crisscross chair frame is fabricated from bent sheet steel and machined steel parts welded and finished. Wood inlays are steam bent and fit to the exterior sides of the front and back legs. Pads on the seat and backrest are finished in Alcantara ultra suede and adhered to the frame.

Design Challenge

Because the Crisscross chair was to be used as an everyday chair, the folding mechanism needed to be concealed and the design needed to stand apart from the operation of the chair. Most folding chairs have visible folding mechanisms which lead someone to believe the chair is for temporary use. The Crisscross geared mechanism is completely concealed inside the back leg and there are no visible linkages to distract from the simple form. The simple design appears to be a static design when opened. When closed the entire chair nests inside the front legs.

Research

The concept of a folding chair designed to be an every day chair is a new category. Most folding chairs are for temporary use and are lightweight and easy to move. The Crisscross changes the paradigm of folding chairs to create a substantial every day chair that has the ability to fold and be moved from one area to another. Research was done on existing folding chairs and a variety of dining chairs to analyze whether people would accept an every day use chair with added mechanics for folding. Rather than ask people if they wanted a folding dining chair, a questionnaire asked more about a person's lifestyle and if they had a dining table that expanded for larger capacity. Users questioned could see the need for an every day dining chair that had the ability to fold and store or simply have a chair that was easy to transport in moves.

Inspiration

People are living in smaller, more flexible spaces and deserve a chair that flexes with them. Many dining tables expand and contract to accommodate different size settings, yet most dining chairs aren’t easily stored when not in use. This forces people to use mix matched chairs for larger settings or find a place to store extra chairs with smaller groups. Folding chairs, although easy to store, aren't designed for everyday use and lack the quality and design people desire for a formal sitting.

Project Duration

The chair was initially conceived and designed in March 2020. Engineering began in fall of 2021 and the first chairs were released May 2022 at ICFF in New York.

Operation Flow

Operation of the folding mechanism is simple. Depressing the buttons under the armrest allows the armrests to be lowered to the leg. Once the armrests are lowered the chair can be tilted on the front legs and the seat folded into the front legs. The back legs are geared with the seat so the chair folds in a synchronous motion.

Image Credits

Photography: Meagan West