Butterfly chair
Each month, the HB team pick a design classic we think you’ll love for ever. This time, our style and interiors editor James Cunningham takes a seat
The design icon: The Butterfly chair, which is also known as the BKF or Hardoy chair. Who designed it: Jorge Ferrari-hardoy, alongside his colleagues Antonio Bonet and Juan Kurchan, all architects associated with the legendary Le Corbusier studio.
When & how: The chair was created in 1938, when the trio were working in Argentina. Designed for an apartment building, it was exhibited and became an instant success.
WHY WE LOVE IT
Otherworldly yet innately simple, the Butterfly chair’s unique silhouette has become an emblem of both Modernist and Latin American design.
A few years after its creation, it won an award organised by the Argentinian Ministry of Culture, then another prize in New York in 1944. The following year, it was exhibited at a prestigious fair in Paris. It also became popular in the wider domestic market, and versions were produced by different manufacturers. While it was originally a simple leather hanging suspended over an iron frame to create the cocooning seat, it is now available in myriad fabrics and finishes.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT FOR EVER
In addition to its good looks, the Butterfly chair is a surprisingly flexible piece of furniture, making it a great choice for contemporary homes. Although generously proportioned and sitting low to the ground, its curved shape and trim frame allow light to travel through and around it, which makes it airier and less bulky than other seating. And as it’s so lightweight, it’s remarkably easy to move around a room whenever you fancy. Position it close to a window during the day, for example, then move it to a corner when the light changes. Versions in durable polyester and kilim-style jute work brilliantly outdoors, while options in tanned Italian leather and resilient Icelandic sheepskin will up the style stakes and make a statement indoors.
The Butterfly chair is available from a number of manufacturers, ranging from high-end options at Knoll and Cuero Design to budget-friendly styles at Cult Furniture and Artico Interiors