(smow) blog compact Milan 2014 Special: Uncino by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi

“Modern office chairs can be like machines, very technical. We wanted to create something a little softer, more human.” So explains Ronan Bouroullec the background thinking to the new Uncino chair by the brothers Bouroullec for Italian manufacturer Mattiazzi.

According to Ronan the path from the commission from Mattiazzi for an office chair to Uncino was “quite slow”, but was obviously worth it, resulting as it has in a truly fascinating and engaging object.

Available in either a static version with a delightful curving sleigh base that hints cantilever without venturing so far, or a swivel version, a version which we consider to be the far superior, Uncino is constructed from ash and steel and comes with a choice of two backrest forms: an elongated, centred, version for lumbar support or a narrower, rounder, curved version more appropriate for relaxing.

The combination of wood with the delicate bent metal tubing bequeaths Uncino something of an historic feel, almost a Victorian steam punk flair; a form language that unquestionably arises from the research Ronan and Erwan undertook when developing the project.

“The very first office chairs were wooden and the seat turned on a very simple, central spindle”, elucidates Ronan “and for us it was quite easy to return to this typology”

Despite its pre-industrial references Uncino is unquestionably a chair for contemporary, post-industrial, environments and we can well imagine it, for example, in a reduced, uncluttered yet busy, office. Or a home office.

If we’re honest we visited the Mattiazzi stand on a couple of occasions to inspect, reinspect and reinspect Uncino, so unsure were we if we really did actually like it. Ultimately we decided we did.

We suspect that for most people it will also take a little getting used to.

But then, somethings just take time…..

Uncino by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi, as seen at Milan furniture Fair 2014

Uncino by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Mattiazzi, as seen at Milan furniture Fair 2014