A Pierre Paulin classic – “My favorite design is the one to come.” – continues to strike a chord in modern minds, looking toward the future. A permanent resident in the collection at the Museum of Modern Art and frequently featured on Star Trek, Paulin’s F300 Lounge Chair was ahead of it’s time when it first came out in the late ’60s. Space-age vertices form complex curves, coalescing together in an incredibly comfortable, captivating experience. An overarching language of comfort – strategically organic form, cradling the body as it tilts luxuriously backward, suggesting multiple seating positions. Now, thanks to Danish design brand GUBI, the futuristic F300 Lounge Chair is proudly making a comeback – this time with a new recyclable base, ushering in a new era of sustainable luxury.
“After GUBI’s successful reissue of the Pacha, it is wonderful to see another of Pierre Paulin’s most cherished designs return to production,” says Benjamin Paulin, son of Pierre. “The F300 perfectly embodies my father’s approach to design and the balance between sculpture, elegance, and comfort he sought in his work.”
A staple of ’70s lounge culture, the F300 certainly reflects the values of the era. Low, wide, and almost blooming, the chair opens up four petals, each end finishing with a curved leg flowing gracefully down to the floor. Languid vertices of fluid form merge, each one symmetrically holding up the upholstered form with a satisfying solidity. Four pieces of fabric join in the seat, offered in a lovely group of organic hues. The base, updated by GUBI in HiREK to be fully recyclable and made with post-consumer waste, is a updated response to the original fiberglass and injected polyurethane construction. The F300 Lounge Chair is available with a Pastel Green or Alabaster White base, with six upholstery options.
With Paulin’s love of organic, curvy forms and strong silhouettes, HiREK easily works with GUBI’s bespoke molds that press the injected material into its iconic shape. Crafted in Italy, the updated design retains the durability of the original plastic while coming in lightweight and UV-, weathering-, and pressure-resistant. The high-gloss finish that HiREK produces means the F300s do not require any additional finishing processes.
“It’s true that the F300 is a visually striking chair with a distinct playfulness and a strong sense of character, but it’s much more than a photogenic sculptural novelty,” Benjamin Paulin says. “The design is rooted in research and a practical understanding of how people sit. Such is the F300’s shape that it is almost impossible not to relax when you sit in it.”
In addition to the launch of the F300, GUBI is also reissuing Paulin’s T877 Side Table in the updated material. Mimicking the same curvilinear design of the chair, the playful table adds a functional companion to the F300 or any seating it’s paired beside. The T877 Side Table is available in Alabaster White, Pastel Green, Violet Ice, Honey Gold, and Molé.
Pierre Paulin was a French furniture and interior designer, training as a ceramicist and a stonecarver in his youth. After injuring his hand in a fight, his went on to attend the Ecole Camondo, gaining an interest in Japanese and Scandinavian design. Sculptural, minimal, yet still charming and fun, his mastery of form speaks to the transience of his designs, still relevant over 60 years later. His work for Artifort in the 1960s solidified his fame, Paulin’s pieces are still highly sought after today.
With headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, GUBI has been crafting top-notch furniture and lighting for over 100 years, either defining styles for the future or reviving pieces from the archive. Offering an inventive, materiality-based approach, they work with specialist manufacturers worldwide to ensure beautiful work in every step of the process.
To learn more about the F300 Lounge Chair or the T877 Side Table by Pierre Paulin for GUBI, please visit gubi.com or Design Within Reach at dwr.com.
Photography courtesy of GUBI and Design Within Reach.
