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The belair chair was developed by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with Horgenglarus. The internationally renowned Basel-based architecture firm and the Glarus-based chair and table manufacturer originally began working together in 2011 with the Volkshaus chair designed by H&dM for Volkshaus Basel. Other than the idea to add 100 different backrests, it was a reproduction of a historical model that had been found in the basement of the Volkshaus.

Belair is a logical evolution of the historic chair – its essential stylistic features, the beautifully shaped legs and the exceptionally narrow chair frame have been adopted, but all the elements necessary for stabilisation have been omitted. Instead, stability is ensured by a specially shaped seat frame, which has been reinforced slightly at the four fixing points for the legs. This pared-back design results in a finely curved wave line, which subtly gives the Belair its very own character.

The direct product of constructive logic, the Belair is a stunningly intricate chair. Ascan Mergenthaler from H&dM says: ‘We’ve been using the classic Horgenglarus pieces in our projects for decades – and our own office, too. With the Belair, we have now designed a chair ourselves that fills an important gap: a soft and elegant chair, without superfluous frills, inspired by classic chairs and yet clearly contemporary.’