Hotel Bar Stools

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.

A similar looking bar chair that Mies van der Rohe came up with was the Brno Flat Bar Chair, which is available with our without armrests. Like the bar stool, it is characterized by its modern curves and soft dark leather upholstery. This chair though has a cantilevered base that looks to be both attractive and resilient. This chair measures 31.5 inches high, 22.75 inches wide and 22.5 inches deep, with a seat height of 17.5 inches. The Brno Flat Chair was launched in the 1930s and received the Museum of Art Award in 1977. Both this chair and the bar stool are manufactured by Knoll Inc.

His design philosophy can be summed up in three words: thoughts in action, which he did most successfully as his creations show.