From the Arco lamp to the Tria bookcase or the Chesterfield sofa, discover these eight icons of furniture design that will never go out of style. The vast majority of these pieces were designed decades ago, but today they continue to be in demand in any contemporary interior. Discover in this selection, in which we have compiled the best of our 'Modern Classics' section, the names behind these industrial design icons, and some of the reasons why they are still the best investment for decorating the home.
- The Arc Lamp
"Start from scratch. Listen to common sense. Know your means and objectives". Almost like a mantra, Achille Castiglioni, a master of masters of Italian industrial design, defined the premises of his work in this way. Then, with his brother Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, he put them into practice in 1958 by creating this elegant lamp, Arco, an icon of modern design inspired by street lamps. The design of Arco arose in response to the dilemma of how to have a hanging lamp without having to drill holes in the ceiling. The base weighs 65 kilos for the fearful: there is no danger of it falling over. But it's best if two people can move it to move it.
- The Thonet chair
The secret of its success lies in its comfort and the fact that it is a simple and elegant design: Welcome to chair number 14, popularly known as the Thonet chair, in honor of its creator and the family company that continues to manufacture it today. With more than 150 years of history, this piece continues to be present from generation to generation. It is recognized by its characteristic curvature and the ring-shaped part that joins the four legs. What is the secret to its success? In 6 pieces of wood, two nuts, and ten screws. Those are all the components of one of the most recognizable icons in design history. "Never has anything so elegant or so well-conceived, so precisely executed, or so practical been created." If Le Corbusier said it, there's a reason.
- The Tria bookcase
Functional, resistant, customizable, elegant, timeless. Can you ask for anything more from a storage system? In 1978, designers JM Massana and JM Tremoleda created this modular steel rod shelving system for the Catalan firm Mobles 114, which has become one of the classics of Spanish industrial design. Tria's success lies in its utterly modular concept. It can quickly grow and be modified according to the user's needs. Moreover, its versatile design fits all kinds of rooms: from living rooms to children's bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and even outdoors.
- The Tolix chair
Due to its good health, it isn't easy to guess its age: 80. The A Chair or Tolix Chair, like the brand that manufactures it, is living a second golden age. It is a universal design in restaurants, hotels, gardens, homes, and offices: a versatile piece of furniture that gives an industrial touch to any interior and, at the same time, fits in a more classic, rustic, or contemporary environment. The most coveted are the original pieces of the 50s and 60s, with the final design of 1956, in which the imprint of the passage of time can be seen in the galvanized layer. Initially designed for outdoor use, the seat contains holes for water drainage.
- Chesterfield sofa
The curved arms and the capitonné upholstery are the essential characteristics of the Chester, as it is popularly known. The premise of the design was that it would favor the adoption of a correct and manly posture, with a straight back and good body, typical of the gentlemen of 19th century English society. The backrest and armrests are the same height, and the seat is not deep. The curious thing is that this sofa is not a piece only suitable for luxurious environments: the contemporary luxury is contained, related more to an interest in comfortable and better-decorated homes than for ostentation. For this reason, despite its distinguished appearance, the Chesterfield has been 'democratized' and can be integrated into an eclectic and informal decoration, leaving its corseted British style.
- Hang it all coat rack
Can a wall-mounted coat rack become a must-have in the history of design? The answer carries the Eames name, which is synonymous with success. Devised for his grandchildren in 1953, this colorful piece designed by Ray Eames has colonized all kinds of environments, replacing the hooks with colorful wooden balls. It is a strategy designed to attract children to hang their things on them and make them -be- tidier. The distance between the wooden balls is always the same, making it possible to place several models one after the other, creating a harmonious composition. The structure is made of steel cable coated in white, and there are several versions in different color palettes edited by Vitra.
- The Coderch lamp
This flattened gourd, made from six sheets of bentwood (Oregon pine) that are joined in a ring at the top and bottom, is one of the most remarkable pieces in the history of Spanish design. Its creator, architect José Antonio Coderch, was looking for a lamp to give a warm light. Part of the research to design was based on sending copies to artists and architects. Whoever received the lamp was obliged to assemble its pieces, thus gaining access to its internal logic. Picasso was one of them.
- The Eames Plastic Chair
This mid-century furniture icon, designed by the Eames couple, is functional and refined. Charles and Ray Eames spent several years developing a one-piece seat molded to fit the body's contours. In the 1940s, they finally hit upon fiberglass-reinforced polyester resin. The company that edits the chairs now in Spain, Vitra, makes them in numerous colors and materials. Their formal simplicity makes them suitable for any place in the house, including the kitchen.