Recover stars
A collaboration leads to an elegant upcycling of a hotel’s Vitra chairs
In early 2021, students doing a master’s in interior design at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) were invited by Citizen M to give new life to iconic pieces by Vitra that adorn the group’s Glasgow hotel. The students were asked to reimagine the ‘Alcove’ two-seater sofa (2006) by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, the ‘Amoebe Highback’ chair (1970) by Verner Panton, and Charles and Ray Eames’ ‘Lounge’ chair (1956). Widely used throughout the hotel, the chairs were due to be discarded, and the students were asked to come up with design interventions using Scottish wool from local textile brand Bute, taking into consideration the pieces’ original design and sustainability.
The three winning designers, chosen by a panel that included Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas, Vitra chief design officer Christian Grosen Rasmussen and Citizen M’s design director Claudia Abt, are Ying Chang for her ‘Alcove’ sofa, Yun Liu for her ‘Amoebe Highback’ chair, and David Ross for his Eames chair.
For her sofa, Chang noted the Bouroullecs’ original concept of seating that creates ‘a room in a room’, exploring how that could be adapted to a busy hotel lobby. Inspired by sails, the designer envisioned a pop-up, awning-like structure atop the sofa that, once open, adds extra privacy and sound insulation. Liu likened the ‘Amoebe’ chair to the greenery of Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens. The designer imagined it landing on its lawns and feeding off its greenery, a concept she replicated in patchwork on the chair’s sinuous forms, using textured fabrics in varying shades of green and purple. Finally, David Ross’ intervention references Glasgow’s art deco theatres and motifs from the city’s transport system. His lounge chair is draped in theatre curtains and upholstered with patchwork (favoured for its low environmental impact) that references traditional Glasgow Corporation transport livery colours.
The three winning pieces were showcased at the hotel during the COP26 climate change conference. Ross’ piece remains in situ, while the remaining two will be auctioned through Artsy, with the proceeds used to fund future sustainable design education at GSA.