Gio Ponti's Round D.154.5 Chair is Now Reissued by Molteni&C

While Italian architect Gio Ponti had a prolific oeuvre, one design remains a favourite of his: the Round D.154.5 chair, available from Molteni&C. Here, we explore the history of this iconic chair design.

With a career spanning over six decades, Giovanni “Gio” Ponti is often heralded as “the father of modern Italian design”. Having worked has worked as an architect, multidisciplinary designer, and teacher, the Italian polymath is also known for his written work; he was also the founder of Domus magazine.

Of his many projects—numbering over a hundred during his lifetime—one piece of furniture can be spotted across projects frequently: the Round D.154.5 chair. Conceived in 1954, the design comprises of just eight parts; its iconic contoured seat and back are often referred to as ‘soap bars’ due to their rounded form and are connected by two arcs of plywood and supported by four metal legs. Ponti informally nicknamed the chair otto pezzi (Italian for eight pieces); a fitting moniker for its composition.

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Above The sculptural quality of the Round D.154.5 armchair allows it to fit seamlessly into a variety of interior styles

In 1957, the chair made its official debut at the 11th Milan Triennale, along with a selection of other Ponti furnishings. The chair was dresssed in Vipla, an economical plastic material made to resemble leather that was extremely innovative at that time. Notably, Ponti presented the chair in its disassembled form, allowing a peek at its deceptively simple design.

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Above The original Round D.154.5 chair, presented at the 11th Milan Triennale (Image: Gio Ponti Archives - Archivio storico Eredi Gio Ponti)

Ponti was incredibly fond of this chair; he continued to feature various versions of it in many of his projects. Besides making an appearance in Villa Planchart and Villa Arreaza in Caracas, the Round chairs are also featured in the Italian Cultural Institute in Stockholm.

It's also easy to imagine the chair being perfectly at home in the colourful set designs of Wes Anderson films; the American filmmaker often takes cues from the vibrant colour palettes and styles popular during the 1960s and '70s.

Above Formed out of eight parts, the Round D.154.5 chair was hailed as an innovative design back in the 1950s

With their inviting character that beckons one to sink into the chair for long hours, the chair—which was produced by Italian manufacturer Cassina back then—was popular. In the mid-60s, however, production ceased, leaving a limited number of prized originals left. The demand, and in turn the price for the chair, skyrocketed—even to this day. Last year, an original Round D.154.5 chair dressed in ivory vinyl fetched more than $110,000 (SGD) at the Phillips Design London auction.

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Above The new reimagined Round D.154.5 chair can be covered in a range of colourful fabrics and leather

Above Original plywood has been replaced with sturdier ash wood, while the metal feet is replaced with gleaming brass accents

Now, more than 60 years later, Italian furniture manufacturer Molteni&C is reissuing the classic design. The brand, which has collaborated with Gio Ponti Archives since 2012, has reproduced the original in exact specifications. Unveiled during this year’s Supersalone fair during Milan Design Week, the Round D.154.5 chair was the star of the show at Molteni&C's Flight D.154.5 installation designed by Ron Gilad.

Contemporary touches designed for the modern-day have been added to the design; the team reimagined the work by replacing plywood with a structure comprising multi-layered ash wood, and included the choice of either a black chrome or brushed brass finish for the legs of the seat. The Round D.154.5 chair can also be dressed in a variety of textiles and leathers of the Molteni&C collection.

Above The reissue of the Round D.154.5 chair was presented at Molteni&C's Flight D.154.5 installation

Retailing in Singapore at the Molteni&C showroom by P5, the latest edition of the chair attests to its enduring appeal. A true testament of refined Italian design, the Round D.154.5’s classic structure and expressive personality make it a design able to withstand the test of time.

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