When the Varius chair was approaching its 25th anniversary, I had the idea of designing a more economical and versatile alternative that would inherit some of its virtues –especially its ergonomics (which make the Varius an exceptionally comfortable chair) and its distinctive backrest (far nicer than those of the countless clumsy imitations).
Starting with these qualities, that I didn’t want to give up, I was able to design a family of seats that included an armless chair, a small armchair, a swivel armchair, a high stool, and bench seating. All four-legged seats stack indefinitely, occupying very little space. The shells can be made in either wood or plastic. The gas injection molding of the latter presented a challenge that, once overcome, allowed us to eliminate any ribbing on the back of both the backrest and the seat. I must admit that the support from BD's current technical department –one of the best I’ve worked with in over fifty years of profession– was fundamental to the crystallization of this ambitious project.