The Paulistano Chair

The Paulistano chair is now available in cotton canvas. Aren't you excited? Even a little bit? Because you totally should be. It’s a rare occasion that outdoor furniture is described as exciting, mostly because it’s meant for outdoors and not many of us have the time - or the money to spend - on amazing furnishings that will only get rained on, but such is the state of things.

Now, the Paulistano’s new canvas cover means it can go outside and be comfortable eye candy, thus saving us from the unfortunate cry of ‘there’s no decent, affordable outdoor furniture!’ Which was me wailing at the beginning of the summer.

The Paulistano is the work of Brazilian designer Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who reached international recognition when he was awarded the 2006 Pritzker Architecture Prize.The Paulistano is a 1957 classic, originally designed for the Paulistano Athletic Club in São Paulo, Brazil.

The frame, which flexes slightly and the sling can be adjusted up or down, is made of a continuous 17-foot long piece of solid steel, welded in a single spot. This deceptively simple structure is then wrapped in durable cotton canvas. The frame comes in two choices: polished stainless steel or phosphatized carbon steel. Phosphatized carbon steel is the original raw material used in 1957, which is slightly rough to the touch and will oxidize slowly with time. This was the intent of Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who wanted the appearance to evolve, believing the charm of a piece of furniture resides in its non-permanent character. To prevent rust, the phosphatized frame should be treated with WD40 twice annually. There are two frames to choose from: .

Made in France
H 33″ W 27.5″ D 27.5″
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