Above: The ‘Loop’ chair designed by Willy Guhl of Switzerland for Eternit in 1954.
Found often in the background of glamour shots of superstar architect-designed homes in the 1950’s is a star in its own right. Designed by Willy Guhl of Switzerland and introduced in 1954 is the ‘Loop’ chair. Made from the high performance composite material Fiber Reinforced Cement called ‘Eternit’ (which is actually a Swiss brand name for the material) the chair, which is a self-supporting loop of the material, came about when Swiss manufacturer Eternit wanted to showcase other uses for its virtually indestructible product, which up until then had only been used for commercial purposes like piping and roof or wall cladding.
Swiss designer Willy Guhl (1915 -2004) working the Fibre Reinforced Cement into a ‘handkerchief’ planter. Guhl in on the right
Eternit commissioned Guhl, who was quite taken with fiber cement material, to design some consumer items and he settled upon the idea that the concrete would be ideally suited (not to mention probably more acceptable to the buying public) for garden furniture and set to work coming up with several designs. The chairs, tables, and planters that resulted were meant to be completely maintenance free and once put outside could easily endure any weather in any season. In fact many people prefer their Loop chairs well-weathered with even moss and lichens growing on them. The furniture Willy Guhl designed, particularly the chair, was met with immediate international success. Still made today the Loop chair has received several design awards and has also added to New York’s Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
Willy Guhl's Loop chair. Click on image for full view
Video showing how the Loop chair is made.
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