Negative space is a formidable tool in design, underlining the philosophical power of absence. Many of our most powerful designs are celebrated for what they have, and also what they do not. Increasingly, a “more is more” approach is tied with maximalist design, with little attention paid to the nuances of creation. This does not necessarily have to be the case – we can ask of more from our interiors without sacrificing refinement and style. Stately and regal, the Bishop Chair by Konstantin Grcic for Magis is cast in a super glossy finish, blending bold hues with meticulously wrought geometry.
The Bishop Chair is crafted in 1mm-thick steel, and receives coats of color before a final gloss layer that gives the piece a signature luminosity. Available in four colors, Red, Black Brown, Green, and Orange, these chairs stand at attention. With an expectant stance and a welcoming, wide back, this piece makes clever use of bent steel, forming easy volumes out of a simple bent plane. These choices in concert reduce physical weight and add a visual heft instead, the density of solid metal now replaced by air.
An open invitation, the back is welcoming and wide, adding an angular jaunt to an otherwise quite refined form. The chair stands by itself – at just 11 pounds, or 5kg, bent steel stands far away from its industrial inception. Retaining a sense of volume that belies its weight, the Bishop Chair demonstrates the symbiotic exchange between designer and producer, a flourishing conversation between Grcic and Magis.
Magis, based in Venice, has always taken the production and lifecycle of their products seriously. Working with Grcic was a natural collaboration, fueled by the notion that people deserve modern ideas that last. “I wanted to create a chair that would be instantly recognizable, but that would also reveal the details of its material and its production process. It was these qualities that attracted me to the project,” shares Grcic. These qualities shine through in the Bishop chair, a lesson in blending familiarity with tactility.
To learn more about the Bishop Chair by Konstantin Grcic for Magis, visit magisdesign.com.
Photography courtesy of Magis.
