Design moment: 1966 Lounge Chair c. 1966

We’ve had the folksy Adirondack chair in this column, so make way on your patio for something far more modern - even though it is marking its 50th birthday this year. The 1966 Lounge Chair is widely regarded as the first modern piece of outdoor furniture. Designer Richard Schultz began working on an aluminium group of chairs as early as 1962 but it wasn’t until Florence Knoll – of the Knoll furniture manufacturer – retired and moved to Florida that his ideas for an outdoor chair came together. He later reported that Florence laid out the challenge: “You have to make some decent outdoor furniture, something that is made out of materials that won’t rust and corrode.” The result is what is known as the 1966 Collection. The original press release talked of Knoll’s determination “to invade the casual furniture market only if they could”, the idea being to “produce furniture that would look equally appropriate indoors or out”.

It doesn’t seem such a revolutionary idea now what with our emphasis on “outdoor room”, but then it was quite the challenge. Customers were “long accustomed but not resigned, to puddle-collecting, joint-rusting, hot-seat upholstered products which comprise the bulk of such furniture. The Knoll pieces are cool to sit on, won’t collect rain, dry rapidly after rain or dew.” Mindful of Florence’s sea-side location one component was given 500 hours of salt spray during the extensive testing process. Talking of the simple shape Schultz said “Most outdoor furniture those days was designed to look like it was designed before the French Revolution, with stamped out metal, bunches of flowers and leaves; This was the first outdoor furniture that enthusiasts of modern design could say, “this is a breath of fresh air”. He also noted in that his chair just looks expensive.

Still in production by Knoll, it is expensive but like the classic it is it, has spawned many imitators.