luft armchair by AUDI concept design studio for poltrona frau

premium furniture producer poltrona frau has collaborated with walter de silva, head of volkswagen group design, and the AUDI concept design studio in munich to create the ‘luft’ armchair, presented earlier this week at its showroom in milan. ‘the unique thing about this project is the fusion of poltrona frau’s invaluable handcrafting expertise with the research, the experimental approach and the conceptual methods of AUDI design,’ explains de silva. the curved aluminum element – symbolizing AUDI lightweight construction – appears to float in space, tracing the contour of the chair from its backrest to its feet, while also serving as its base. ‘in the picture of a chair, I see order and discipline – an armchair, on the other hand, suggests precisely the relaxation that I’m longing for at the end of a long day of work,’ he adds. upholstered in supple ‘pelle frau’ leather, the seating piece finds balance in the juxtaposition between the metal framework’s technical aesthetic and the extended, bird-like silhouette.

luft armchair by AUDI concept design studio for poltrona frau
all images courtesy AUDI AG

front view

3/4 front view

side view

3/4 rear view

rear view

making of ‘luft’

hand crafting the aluminum framework

chair prototypes at the AUDI concept design studio

walter de silva, head of volkswagen group design testing the chair