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A Decade of the Prater Chair

The Prater Chair was first introduced at the 2009 Cologne Furniture Fair, and today it’s a classic. Designer Marco Dessì, a young Vienna-based designer from South-Tirol Alto Adige, submitted a rendering of his Prater Chair design as part of the special d3 design talents show. Inspired by traditional Viennese coffeehouse chairs and named after a relaxing area in Vienna’s 2nd district, the Richard Lampert brand decided to pick up and include the Prater Chair in its furniture collection.

chairs in entryway

Photo: Peter Schumacher

Eleven years later each stackable chair is uniquely crafted, characterized by birch plywood pressed into boards using black phenolic resin. Layers of plywood are penetrated through circular milling, making the glue between layers visible. The first prototypes used birch plywood and three curves to define the seat, however the milling effect was so strong that Dessì abandoned his original plan to include a filigree backrest and instead repeated the curved effect of the seat. The visible black glue has become the chair’s defining graphic hallmark. You can find the Prater Chair in cafes, restaurants, studios and beyond. Choose from option in yellow, grey, black or natural wood.

chair

Photo: Peter Schumacher

chair in entryway

Photo: Peter Schumacher

dining table chairs

Photo: Peter Schumacher

stack of chair

Photo: Peter Schumacher

chair on sidewalk

Photo: Peter Schumacher

stacked chairs

Photo: Peter Schumacher

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To learn more or purchase the Prater Chair, visit richard-lampert.de.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.