With its bentwood frame, cantilevered seat, and curved backrest, the Poäng chair is one of Ikea's most recognizable pieces. The Swedish furniture maker has produced over 30 million Poäng chairs since it debuted in 1976, and it continues to sell about 1.5 million every year—the company's bestselling armchair—not bad for a design that's settling squarely into middle age. So what, exactly, made the Poäng a commercial success and an instant icon for Ikea? The secret lies in a genius concept that's been gently updated with the times. The company doesn't normally put individual designers in the spotlight, but for the Poäng's 40th birthday, it did. Japanese designer Noboru Nakamura is the creator of the Poäng. He came to Ikea in 1973 to learn more about Scandinavian furniture—and there, he collaborated with Lars Engman, the director of design at the company, on a chair that would use plywood veneer construction. In a video interview, Nakamura, who left Ikea in 1978 to start his own furniture company, describes how the chair came about.
"I learned by experience that a cantilever consisting of a U-shaped structure could, with a person, swing to some extent with the use of molded plywood, and I wanted it to swing in an elegant way, which triggered me to imagine Poäng," he says. "A chair shouldn't be a tool that binds and holds the sitter; it should be a tool that provides us emotional richness. [Poäng] creates an image where we let off stress or frustration by swinging. Such movement has meaning and value." The final silhouette resembled Alvar Aalto's Model 406 chair of 1939, but in lieu of a webbed or caned seat, the Poäng sported thin upholstery. "While the design has remained largely unchanged since its inception, this iconic product has undergone some alterations to make it more accessible, more affordable, more relevant, and to increase the quality," says Mark Bond, deputy range manager of living rooms at Ikea. There have been tweaks to the upholstery color and pattern to keep the chair relevant with consumer tastes, but the biggest change happened in 1992.
The chair's seat was originally made from tubular steel, but in the early '90s, the company switched to an all-wood frame and also narrowed the size. This allowed the chair to be flat packed—a move that reduced the price by 21% for customers (it's actually less expensive now than it was when it launched). That same year, Ikea changed the chair's original name, Poem, to Poäng. "The evolution has always been design-focused, thinking of this product not as a fashion item but rather adhering to and improving upon the classic design," Bond says. Considering that the Poäng routinely shows up in houses, apartments, dorm rooms, and anywhere you need to kick up your feet, Nakamura's emphasis on an emotionally rich chair—and Ikea's affordability-minded engineering—have proven to be a winning combination. To honor the design, the company is selling a limited-edition version of the chair, with a grasscloth-like cushion cover much like the inaugural offering had in 1976, starting in September.
Like the recently opened Ikea museum, that fanfare around the Poäng's design shows how the furniture company is beginning to demystify some of the genius that's contributed to its history—a welcome change that gives some of the most ubiquitous products in the world the same pedigree as pieces that cost many hundreds of dollars more. Never miss a story. I'd also like to receive special Fast Company offersDue to the fact that wooden outdoor furniture is often exposed to the elements, including rain, snow, ice, sunlight and extreme heat, these pieces require very specific care, maintenance and upkeep on at least a semi-regular basis. For many individuals, refinishing wooden outdoor furniture is viewed as a complete mystery or an annoying task. Rather than purchasing new furniture or paying professional painters and repairmen, you can easily refinish wooden outdoor items by following a few easy, basic tips. Removing the Old Finish Perhaps the only benefit of wooden outdoor furniture being exposed to the elements is the fact that this often loosens old finish, allowing for a relatively painless removal.
Whether you are attempting to remove wood stain or paint, the easiest first step to take in removal of the old finish is to use a power washer or high pressure hose (high pressure hoses can be found at most modern car washes). Spraying the furniture with a power washer or high pressure hose not only removes dirt and debris, but often removes excess flaking of the original finish. Once the item has thoroughly dried, sanding is typically required to remove the remaining finish and ensure a smooth and even surface. Applying the New Finish When it comes to refinishing most furniture, the method of application often comes into question. While some individuals prefer to use traditional paintbrushes, foam brushes are an excellent alternative. Much like traditional paintbrushes, foam brushes are available in a wide variety of sizes, allowing for usage in the tiniest of nooks and crannies. The benefits of foam brushes that traditional paintbrushes fail to offer include an even and soft texture, the ability to soak in excess paint or stain, and nearly mess-free use.
Allowing the New Finish to Dry The amount of time required for the paint or stain to dry thoroughly typically depends upon the product and manufacturer. It is important to study product packaging to ensure you understand the amount of time required for complete drying. Many individuals make the mistake of leaving wet and freshly finished outdoor furniture outside while drying. This often results in dirt and debris being dried into the paint or stain. To prevent unwanted debris from making contact with the finish, it is wise to allow the finish to dry to a tacky texture and move indoors (such as a shed or garage). Treat yourself to a time-out in a hanging chair. Here’s a roundup of our rattan-inspired favorites. Take note that natural rattan is best when it’s kept in a dry location—perfect for hanging on a covered porch or indoors from a ceiling beam (bring that summer swing feeling inside). Want to hang a chair from a branch in the garden? Synthetic rattan to the rescue.
Several of our selections are made with weather-resistant synthetic fibers. Above: From Sika Design, a Holly Swing is 3,845 SEK (about $455 US) from Artilleriet. Above: A Cuzco Hanging Chair made of woven cotton on an iron frame will hole up to 200 pounds and is on sale for $149 (marked down from $198) at Urban Outfitters. Above: Made in Indonesia of hand-bent rattan, Serena and Lily’s Hanging Rattan Chair is suspended by a heavy-duty loop and rope (included); Above: A Pod Hanging Chair available for pre-order (delivery estimated in September) has a powder coated aluminum frame with a woven recycled resin shell; Above: A Scandinavian classic designed by Nanna Ditzel in 1959, the handmade rattan Egg Chair is designed for indoor use; $2,238 from Danish Design Store. Above: From Spanish design team MUT, the Nautica Swing Chair looks like bentwood and comes with a fabric seat. The indoor version is crafted of peeled and tinted rattan, while the outdoor version is made of high-resistance aluminum tubing.