When can an armchair be considered iconic? The timeless design, which combines elegance and simplicity with an idea of immediate comfort, ensures this nomination for the PJ armchair , inspired by the designs of the visionary Pierre Jeanneret.
A classic , an icon with a timeless design
Designed in the middle of the last century for the Capitol Complex in Chandigarh, India , it represents one of Le Corbusier's most significant projects. Furthermore, the inclusion of this complex of buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016 has shifted the spotlight towards this project. Its rooms featured these comfortable armchairs with thick padding, with a V-shaped compositional scheme of the supports.
The chair’s V-shaped legs, made from moisture- and insect-resistant Burmese wood, were sturdy. And their durability would be tested decades later in Chandigarh, when, as people gravitated toward more contemporary designs, scores of Jeanneret chairs were discarded and piled up all over the city, from the roof of the Supreme Court to the balconies of administrative buildings. Many were even sold at local auctions for a couple of rupees.
But in the early 2000s, furniture dealers began to surround Chandigarh, notably Eric Touchaleaume, Francois Laffanour, Phillipe Jousse and Patrick Seguin, who saw the value in Jeanneret's discarded chairs before anyone else, purchasing a number of the original pieces.
Inevitably, Jeanneret’s chair has made a comeback and found global recognition as an iconic piece of design. Beloved among design professionals around the world, including the likes of Belgian interior designer Axel Vervoordt and French architect Joseph Dirand, the chair has attracted such widespread demand that since 2011, a rule has been in place stating that none of the original pieces still in Chandigarh can leave India without the approval of the country’s Ministry of Culture.
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Since its rediscovery, the chair has become a design staple. Jeanneret chairs, both original and restored, still command record prices at auction and grace the homes of famous designers and celebrities such as the Kardashian sisters, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Lenny Kravitz. And as demand on the market increases, a once common chair is now making a comeback.
The modern re-edition of Design Details
The contemporary and 100% made in Italy reworking of the Capitol Complex upholstered armchair features an oak wood structure with Wenge or Mahogany finish, padded backrest, seat and armrests covered in velvet or leather.
The PJ armchair is available with or without armrests and is available in both indoor and outdoor fabric versions.
Its simple and minimalist lines have made it an internationally renowned flagship product based on the values of craftsmanship and high quality.
Discover the collection of rattan chairs inspired by the designs of Pierre Jeanneret:
More recently, Dutch brand Eichholtz has created a series of chairs that they have dubbed the “Tribute Collection,” paying aesthetic homage to the original designs through simple modernist forms, distinct V-shaped constructions, and woven rattan details. The collection capitalizes on the demand for Jeanneret’s pieces and brings those infamous designs into a contemporary context.
Today, Chandigarh is considered one of the few successful planned cities in the world, and still has around a million residents living within its stoically curved concrete walls. And although it has been more than 50 years since the city was conceived, the iconic legacy of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret lives on in these chairs, reminding us of one of the most significant architectural feats the world has ever seen.