5-minute chair

On view at X-D-E-P-O-T
Shelf 12: Metal
DesignBerger, Ueli GND
Berger, Susi GND
ProductionSimon Stalder-Roth
Date Execution2011
Date Draft1970
DesignBerger, Ueli GND
Berger, Susi GND
ProductionSimon Stalder-Roth
Date Execution2011
Date Draft1970

Susi and Ueli Berger used “chicken wire” to make a chair. In the 1960s, the two Swiss designers had a spontaneous need for a chair to sit in the garden and enjoy the sunshine. Inspired by construction manuals for houses from the hippie movement they had a go at creating something both practical and neutral in expression:

  1. Roll up 314 centimeters of wire mesh to form a double cylinder
  2. Fix both ends of the mesh with galvanized wire
  3. At a height of about 42 centimeters press the wire back and down along the line of the two wire ends
  4. Use wire to fix both ends of the seating area to the outer cylinder
  5. Bend the edge of the backrest backwards somewhat (round it off) The DIY piece of furniture was christened 5-Minute-Chair because it could be made quickly on your own.
  • Design sketch 5-minute chair, 1970
    © Zürcher Hochschule der Künste / Museum für Gestaltung Zürich / Designsammlung

Further detail

DesignBerger, Ueli GND
Berger, Susi GND
ProductionSimon Stalder-Roth
Date Execution2011
Date Draft1970
Place of productionBodenflüeli, Switzerland
Size Height: 79.5 cm, seat height: 42.5 cm, width: 57 cm, depth: 51 cm
MaterialWire mesh, Tailored
GenreFurniture
Inventory no862/2011
AccessionDonation Susi Berger / Ueli Berger