Hotel Bar Stools

Not all hotel bars are created equal. Those that are located in high-end hotels, like the Four Seasons in New York or the Ritz Hotel in London, would understandably have highly dignified, lushly decorated bars where the prices of food and drinks would be astronomical. Small hotels and hostels would probably have much, much more casual bars where you wouldn’t need a reservation to enter, and which you can spend time in even if you’re wearing casual attire. The furniture probably would be a lot more casual too.

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A designer for all seasons, was that what German-born Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was? Perhaps he was recognized as so in the circles of architecture and design, and for good reason. His work has been likened to modern, cosmopolitan cities in that they are avant-garde yet stylish. Good examples of this would be contemporary hotel furniture that he designed, specifically bar stools.

For example, there was the bar stool he created in 1958 exclusively for the Four Seasons hotel and restaurant in New York City. It was never mass produced at the time, but it’s available today via sites like Bonluxat. Measuring 43 cm wide, 43 cm deep and 76 cm high, its frame and footrest was made of bent steel and had a chrome plating finish. The plywood at the heart of the seat was softened with an upholstered leather foam cushion, making for comfortable seating. Truly minimalist in design and appearance, it didn’t even have a back rest. It seems to me this bar stool could have been made today because it appears to be more forward-thinking than what I thought bar stools could have been at the time.

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If there’s one city in the world that is as multicultural as it can get, it would probably be New York City. It truly is a melting pot, and many establishments – old and new – reflect this. Take, for instance, the Hudson Hotel. Opened in 2000, it’s been described as owner Ian Schrager’s haven for strangers who don’t mind mingling with other strangers in that busy metropolis.

Much of the interior design was done by Philippe Starck, one of the titans in the furniture design industry. Though not all the furniture and furnishings in the hotel are Starck’s creations (bar tables, beds, sofas by other designers are installed there), it does include at least some of his pieces, one of which is the Hudson bar stool. In fact, Starck designed this particular seating item specifically for the hotel.

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What do you see whenever you open your refrigerator? Sure, there’s the usual stash of food, fresh or leftovers, as well as water, drinks, condiments, and perhaps some things that are unidentifiable at first glance since they’ve been sitting in the fridge so long. But what else would you see if you really tried hard to look beyond the clutter? Well, Danish designer Hee Welling saw a stool.

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The Japanese are a very spiritual people who appreciate the beauty of nature and seek to incorporate this kind of beauty in their everyday lives. Architects and furniture designers, I think, grasp this concept perfectly and this is why we can see nature-inspired themes in their creations. Take, for instance, the Ripples stool by Toyo Ito.

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The 2008 Hoss Fly machine from a company called California Boss Hoss Motorcycles has been given lots of coverage by blogs everywhere since it was exhibited at the November 2007 Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Touted as the Hossfly V8 bar stool, it certainly grabbed a lot of attention, not the least of which because it certainly doesn’t look like any of your typical modern hotel chairs.

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