alki lan chair holds self-adjusting mechanisms within clean curving form

the office chair for people who don’t like office chairs will debut at salone del mobile during milan design week 2019. the alki ‘lan’ collection is the result of a two year project where the basque furniture manufacturer challenged iratzoki & lizaso studio to create a brand new design. this was to not only comply to the ergonomic requirements of office chairs, but also adhere to the brand’s warm aesthetic and emotional characteristics.

all images courtesy of alki

‘we noticed that more and more people around us had less and less esteem for office chairs. the aesthetic codes for these chairs more closely resemble an ‘orthopaedic’ tool than a cherished work companion. moreover, most of the adjustment devices are only used very rarely. if, on top of that, one considers that in a good many cases, office chairs frequently change users, it seemed an interesting idea to get rid of its superfluous functions,‘ explains jean louis iratzoki, co-founder of iratzoki & lizaso studio.

with its curving form, materials and even contact zones specifically and meticulously crafted for comfort, the alki ‘lan’ collection is the perfect office companion. in the brand’s signature material, wood is used on the exterior and interior of the seat where it contrasts with the upholstered body. it features a self-adjusting mechanism – hidden underneath the seat – that tailors the tension of the backrest according to the weight of the user. these refined but excelling functional characteristics are inconspicuous to create a clean yet personal design.

‘in contrast to the classic office chair with its aggregate architecture, lan is a compact and welcoming chair with integrated elements. so, we have shifted from a sort of machine to an appealing object,‘ says ander lizaso, co-founder of iratzoki & lizaso studio.

the backrest itself can be locked in three different tilt positions. furthermore, its shape has been designed to allow maximum freedom of movement for the user twisting in the seat. the collection comprises three backrest heights for the rotating model and a low-back for the four wooden-legged chair. with an attractive yet still versatile design, alki’s ‘lan’ collection adapts to fit all office spaces and workers.