British designer Samuel Wilkinson has paired steam-bent wood with Vienna straw to create a contemporary dining chair called Latis.
Aiming to create "a timeless signature chair with a modern aesthetic", Wilkinson used the two elements that characterised the classic bistro chair of the mid-19th century.
The chair has a slender frame made from steam-bent ash
The chair boasts a slender, lightweight frame made from steam-bent ash, while the seat and back panel are made from the retro straw textile known as Vienna straw.
But these elements are combined in a form that is intended to be modern rather than traditional.
One long piece of curved ash forms the front two legs and the backrest. The two rear legs slot into this piece, while also creating support for the rounded seat. The result is a design with a simple but bold curved form. The seat and back panel are made from Vienna straw
"The general set-out of the design is quite classic but we have hopefully modernised and elevated it a little by trying to reduce the visual thickness in the frame," explained Wilkinson, who is based in London.
"The key detail is the two grooves cut into the steam-bent seat pan ring ? one on the top, one on the side ? which helps keep the visual lightness from both inside and out," he told Dezeen.
Grooves cut in where the seat meets the frame help to give the chair a visual lightness
Wilkinson designed Latis for London-based retailer The Conran Shop. It is expected to bec...