Benjamin Hubert's centenary celebration chair for Poltrona unveiled in Milan

Surely no play has lodged itself in our collective cultural consciousness more than Romeo and Juliet and it latest incarnation is in chair form. To celebrate its centenary, Poltrona Frau challenged 12 designers to come up with chair that Janus-like would reflect its illustrious heritage and presage its future. It should also be a chair that people want to spend time in and made using traditional techniques. The winner was announced at Milan last week, with London’s Benjamin Hubert studio taking the honours for its Juliet chair, inspired by the sleeve of the same name ( i.e. a sleeve that tightly fits the arm and has a large deconstructed ‘puff’ on the shoulder lads).

“This inspiration was used to communicate the properties of leather upholstery. The out side of the chair utilises the flexibility and tensile strength of leather to describe a fluted traditional timber frame work where the shape of the timber can clearly be seen through the tight leather covering. This is contrasted by a ‘tri-pleated’ generous sitting area with a soft and loose appearance,” the winners said.

“This de constructed area is used to describe the comfort of the chair. The shape of the sitting area is ‘wide screen’ to allow the user to sit in multiple positions in line with how people really use and mis-use furniture.”