Tubular Chair

The O.F.I.S. Tubular Chair is an evolution of the collection’s language into a more standardized and versatile furniture typology. While the armchair focuses on a monumental, low-slung presence, the Tubular Chair addresses the challenges of daily ergonomics in a dining or workspace context. The design team was tasked with adapting the heavy-duty, oversized dimensions of industrial ventilation tubes to a lighter, more agile frame without losing the structural integrity or the narrative weight that defines the O.F.I.S. series.

Technically, the chair is a masterclass in industrial translation. The studio utilized shorter, more precise sections of the L-shaped tubes to create a stable four-legged base and a supportive backrest. By maintaining the visible joints and mechanical fasteners, the team preserves the "interstitial" character of the material—reminding the user that these elements were once part of a building’s breathing system. The construction process is entirely glue-free and chemical-free, finished only with a protective water-based coating that respects the original industrial patina. This ensures that the chair remains a fully circular object, capable of being returned to the industrial cycle or repaired with basic tools.

Conceptualized for the Mint Gallery showcase, the Tubular Chair bridges the gap between sculptural objecthood and functional industrial design. The design team successfully transformed a rugged, construction-grade component into a refined piece of seating that plays with the visual perception of weight and volume. It highlights the studio’s commitment to "proximity architecture," where the raw materials are not sourced from a distant supplier but extracted from the very city that the studio inhabits. Through this chair, the team demonstrates that sustainable design does not require the creation of new "green" materials, but rather a more imaginative and rigorous use of the massive technical surplus that our urban environments already provide.