2004_9_13_emeco2.jpgThis chair had a few donuts on the way to the altar. Months ago we announced the impending arrival of Frank Gehry's new Superlight Chair by Emeco, and we were so happy. The design was spare and elegant: thin tendrils upholding a thin curved seat of aluminum. It was shiny. It really was a cool new design. Then the real production model came out, and we want to lodge a protest.



2004_9_13_emeco1.jpgFeatured on the cover of DWR's new catalogue, the Gehry Superlight that is being sold - indeed the real, final production model - is not the same chair. It has lost the thin, elegance of the original model we saw, and looks far more like a thick, clumsy institutional chair. Are we crazy for thinking this? Are we the only ones who feel there has been some sleight of hand going on here?




2004_9_13_emeco3.jpgTake a look at the final model (top) and then at the previous press pictures (all following). The final model has lost the articulation and superlight feeling of the original, particularly at the feet, where the corners used to be square. These are different fish, and we aren't happy about it. MGR