Modern as the geometry of this chair suggests, designer Gaurav Nanda also took inspiration for the backrest from structural design of old Amish barns. "Our Farmhouse Chair is as sturdy as an antiquated piece of farm machinery," says the Los Angeles-based designer, "And as easy to relax in after 10 hours on the clock as a pair of worn out dungarees."
That's right, even though these chairs are from iron wire. Unlike just about every wire chair on the market, Bend chairs are comfortable. Gaurav spaces the wires less than a quarter-inch apart, making them a pleasure to sit on. Each piece is machine-molded and undergoes upwards of 400 handmade spot-welds—a process Gaurav refers to as "bending." Each bend is carefully arranged to ensure structural strength, while the angles of the back, the curves of the seat, and the closeness of the wires are designed to encourage relaxation, comfort and utility. Gaurav, who grew up in the Detroit suburbs and even spent part of his design career at General Motors, draws pattern inspiration from his childhood: the intricate macramé his mother made; string art Spirograph drawing sets. (He was also a part of the design and conception of Clocky with his sister Gauri.) What's more, the collection is made of an iron that can be repeatedly recycled (something for your green heads), and all pieces are sandblasted, then pre-treated with anti-rust zinc primer and powder coated for extended life right in Gaurav's L.A. studio.