Design in Tubular Steel

Description: Tubular steel and unconventional thought fueled a design movement that echoes in many facets of design culture today. Revolutionizing the way we perceive and use our furniture in our living spaces, a design revolution unfolded during a period of classic industrial growth and creative exploration in the early 20th century. All Tubular Steel represented the future itself, it was a metaphor for modernity, simplicity and functional elegance.Tubular steel furniture first appeared in the early 1900s, when new manufacturing techniques made it possible to shape steel tubing into elegant curves and angles. This new-found flexibility, combined with the fact that steel is strong and designed to last, allowed designers to create furniture that was slim and visually exquisite in ways that had never been possible before.One of the most important exponents of tubular steel furniture came from Germany in 1919 with the Bauhaus school of art and design. These innovators, including Marcel Breuer, Mart Stam, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and many others, used solid steel frames to push the boundaries of what the material could be shaped and used for.These designs, with their pure, soft lines and emphasis on function over form, were based on the philosophy that the furniture we live with is as important, if not more important, than the architecture we live in, and as such challenged prevailing attitudes to furniture design and introduced a new era of modernism.The Wassily Chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925, is probably one of the most famous examples of tubular steel furniture that inspired the entire international Bauhaus movement. A fitting tribute to artist and Bauhaus faculty member Wassily Kandinsky, the chair's flowing lines and clean aesthetic epitomise the Bauhaus ethos. The design used tubular steel, which was just beginning to be used in furniture, but the absence of legs in favour of an original cantilevered form made it not only a hallmark of the new era, but also a direct boost to the German economy.The impact of the Wassily chair was beyond anything the Bauhaus could have predicted. It quickly became one of the most recognisable designs of the twentieth century - an object of desire in homes, offices and public spaces around the world. It was a huge success and went a long way towards establishing tubular steel as the material of choice for many early modern furniture designers.Mart Stam's S33 cantilever chair and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's MR10 chair are two other iconic examples of tubular steel furniture designed during this period. The timeless elegance and enduring importance of these classic pieces can be attributed to their streamlined style and understated charm, which are still appreciated today.The influence of tubular steel furniture has spread far beyond its Bauhaus roots. In the 20th century, designers such as Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand and Gae Aulenti used the material's flexibility to create a range of chairs, tables and other furniture that continue to fascinate and influence modern design and style.Tubular steel continues to be a popular choice for furniture designers because of its attractive and strong appearance, and its versatility means it can be used in both domestic and commercial settings.Filter - Whether cloaked in its raw industrial state or padded with luxurious upholstery, the material is synonymous with modernism - a true testament to the power of highly engineered beauty.