A proper wooden chair for Mattiazzi

Konstantin Grcic has focused on a wooden chair for Mattiazzi giving rise via a radical and uncompromising design to a skilfully constructed wooden chair that is almost austere in its geometric rigour. #MDW2017

Konstantin Grcic, sedia in legno per Mattiazzi, 2017

A typical family firm rooted in Italy’s industrial fabric, Mattiazzi is based in Friuli in what was, until a few years ago, a flourishing wooden-chair production district in north-east Italy. When the recession hit and financial certainty was undermined, the company successfully sought fresh directions and built a new identity.

Along the way, Mattiazzi encountered Konstantin Grcic who produced the first designs for them six years ago, with the Medici and Clerici collections. “Last year, MDW made me think there was something missing from the Mattiazzi catalogue and that I had to design a real wooden chair,”– explains Grcic regarding the genesis of the Primo chair. “I wanted it to be in beech-wood because the Thonets were in beech-wood and basic school chairs were also in beech-wood.” continues Gricic. “I wanted to verify whether the simplicity I had in mind was economical. Primo has square legs which is like not making a decision. It is also an economical production solution because legs come out of the machine square."

Konstantin Grcic, dettaglio sedia in legno per Mattiazzi, 2017 — Primo chair by Konstantin Grcic for Mattiazzi, 2017

The design of the chair is extremely architectural with everything tending towards verticality, in net contrast with the orientation and curve of the back which fits into the structure by cutting through the square section of the extended legs. Designing a table for the chair was a challenging passage, with the leg join concealed beneath the table-top.