Though they were built for two very different purposes and exist nearly 1,000 miles apart, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion in Spain and Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czechia, bear striking similarities.
Both buildings were constructed around the same time (in 1929 and 1930, respectively); both were designed in close collaboration with architect and interior designer Lilly Reich; and both are widely considered pioneering prototypes of modernist design, with their open plans, mix of industrial yet refined materials, and overall “less is more” ethos.
Like all of van der Rohe and Reich’s projects, the furniture within was just as carefully considered as the architecture. For the Barcelona Pavilion, that methodology spawned, among other furnishings, the Barcelona chair, a lounge seat that’s endured as a design icon for almost a century. For Villa Tugendhat, van der Rohe designed similarly thoughtful pieces, most notably the Tugendhat chair.
Unlike its famous Spanish cousin, however, the Tugendhat chair fell out of production—that is, until now. Knoll has just announced its reintroduction of the Tugendhat, breathing new life into a beloved chair with a storied legacy.
Van der Rohe designed the original Villa Tugendhat for a couple, Fritz and Grete, in Brno, a small city in the present-day Czechia. The pair came from wealthy families. Grete was familiar with van der Rohe’s work from time spent at the home he designed for art historian Eduard Fuchs, and reached out to him when the duo put down roots in Brno.
Inspired by the home’s hillside site, van der Rohe worked with Reich to create what would become a new paradigm in modern architecture. The interior and exterior spaces flowed together seamlessly, with glass walls creating a sense of openness, while materials like onyx, travertine, and Macassar ebony wood added a sense of quiet splendor. This architectural approach, naturally, was echoed in the Tugendhat chair. “The dramatic cantilevers of the horizontal planes are reflected both in the villa’s position on the hillside and in the chair’s base,” adds Iveta Černá, director of Villa Tugendhat.
The Tugendhat chair’s reissue remains totally faithful to these first editions, adhering to original sketches with “exacting precision,” according to Jonathan Olivares, senior vice president of design at Knoll. “Rohe’s work has panache, elegance, and technical rigor,” he adds. “Those characteristics never get old.”
Those looking to snap up one of the sought-after chairs can do so now via Knoll’s website, with color options ranging from neutrals like brown and black to more vibrant hues like yellow and red.
“All of the armchairs from the villa are true design icons,” adds Černá. “I firmly believe that the reintroduction will soon achieve a reputation similar to the Barcelona chair.”
Helena Madden is ELLE DECOR’s market editor, and covers all things product and trend, from flatware and furnishings to kitchen and bath. She previously worked as a staff writer at Robb Report, where she covered luxury news with a focus on interior design.
