william sawaya designs 5.PM chair with bull-like horns for sawaya & moroni

lebanese architect william sawaya of sawaya & moroni has created a stacking chair that subtly references the shape of a bull. the 5.PM chair takes its name from the traditional starting time of a spanish-style bullfighting known as corrida.

images courtesy of sawaya & moroni

unveiled by the italian furniture brand during milan design week, the chair’s distinct feature is its steel frame. one main tube defines the legs, seat, backrest, and arm rests, shaped by william sawaya to echo the form of an animal with large horns. 

there are two different versions of the 5.PM chair, which both underscore the aesthetics of the exposed metal structure while maintaining stackability. a soft integral polyurethane or a heat-curved ply, available in a variety of colors, can be chosen for the seat and the backrest. the latter features one side finished with a lightweight upholstery covered in fabric or leather. 

the 5.PM chair was unveiled by the italian furniture brand during milan design week 2019, as part of its new ‘structured figures’ collection. as the name suggests, sawaya & moroni has focused attention on the topic of structure, stripping it back and highlighting it as an aesthetic element.