DAUMILLER ARMCHAIR
BY RAINER DAUMILLER
REINTRODUCING A CLASSIC OF 1970S DANISH DESIGN
STRENGTH AND TIMELESSNESS
Inspired by the traditional Danish milking stool as well as the China Chair by Hans J. Wegner, Daumiller set out to create a chair that would be able to withstand both children's play and adults' parties, and at the same time have a sculptural form that radiated strength and timelessness.
MADE TO LAST
Launched at a time when awareness of sustainable forestry was widening, and tapping into a growing appreciation for alternatives to less renewable woods, the pine armchair became a bestseller in the late 70s.
“I do not perceive the chair as ‘design', but as a logical result of good materials and good craftsmanship, made with today's tools, to meet the ergonomic and aesthetic requirements I expect of a good chair.”
Rainer Daumiller
STRAIGHTFORWARD MATERIALITY
Solid in construction, simple in form, and sculptural in expression, the Daumiller Armchair’s straightforward materiality and robust composition pay tribute to Daumiller’s lifelong affinity with nature. Furthermore, the designer’s choice of pine as his material demonstrates a dedication to sustainability that was ahead of its time.
CONTOURED FOR COMFORT
Comfort was a major consideration. With no textiles or upholstery, Daumiller ensured that the seat is generously proportioned and that the wood itself is ergonomically adapted to the contours of the body, resulting in a chair that the user can comfortably remain seated in long after the meal is over.
ENGAGING VISUAL TEXTURE
Another benefit of pine is that, although the chair has a chunky, heavyweight appearance, it is relatively light. This is particularly beneficial given that – in order to accommodate the fact that people have generally grown taller since the chair's original launch – the seat height has been raised. As a wood, pine has an engaging visual texture, thanks to the interplay of light and dark veins running through it and the knots scattered across the surface, giving each Daumiller Armchair a personality of its own.
COMPLEXITY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
Giving a Danish design classic the international recognition it deserves, the new GUBI edition captures the complexity of Daumiller’s craftsmanship and skill with solid wood. Because the connections between components are highly visible compared to most other chairs, precision is essential, and the most exact detailing is needed.
The generous seat and three-part arms and backrest are carefully milled to achieve the necessary curvature, and finished by hand.
VINTAGE ALLURE
Now, with interest in 1970s furniture and retro aesthetics on the rise, a renaissance in pine as a furniture material, and an Instagram-fueled rediscovery of Daumiller’s design legacy well underway, GUBI is honored to return the Daumiller Armchair to the market. Working in collaboration with Rainer Daumiller himself, GUBI has brought the original design back into production, making the chair available in a lacquered golden pine.
RAINER DAUMILLER
Whether working in synthetic materials or in his beloved pine, Rainer Daumiller always demonstrated an acute understanding of his medium. His ability to ‘listen to materials’ mean that his designs were always inspired by the inherent characteristics of what they were made from. His most celebrated works, including the Daumiller Armchair, were in natural materials, and could almost be described as collaborations with nature, rather than the singular visions of an individual designer.