Many hotel chairs are elegant creatures. They are pretty to look at, but sometimes their elegance is a bit intimidating. Sometimes it can seem like sacrilege to sit on them, so imposing and regal they appear. Thankfully there are hotel chairs that are more fun to look at, which actually seem to invite a guest to come and sit on them. Such is the 21 Hotel Seating Collection by Spanish designer Javier Mariscal.
Produced in 1997 by Moroso, the chairs in the collection look to be very comfortable, with their overstuffed seats, backs, and armrests. They do not have removable covers; instead, injection molded polyurethane foam covers the inner steel structure. This foam is fire-resistant, which is always a good thing for a chair to be. The feet are made of steel, with articulated underfeet.
According to information from Mariscal’s web site, he derived inspiration from organic forms for his 21 Hotel Seating Collection. Straight lines, geometric shapes, you won’t find such things in this set. The adage “form follows function” doesn’t apply here either. Instead, the designs transcend function. They are image rather than volume. Like many other designers, Mariscal’s furniture is an expression of his way of thinking, it’s just that it seems he thinks so whimsically and delightfully. Thank heavens for that!
Mariscal’s work is highly popular in the design world. He has been responsible for creating the interiors of a number of well-known establishments, establishments that would only take on the best designers. These include the Restaurante Ikea in Vitorio, the eleventh floor of the Hotel Puerta America in Madrid, the Gran Hotel Domine in Bilbao, and the Calle 54 Jazz Club. Truly, Mariscal is a much respected contributor to Spanish modern design. Olé!
