Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for his renowned Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czech Republic, the Brno Chair reflects the groundbreaking simplicity of its original environment. The cantilevered seat bounces slightly with the sitter, and its tubular frame is offered in a choice of three finishes. Celebrated for its lean profile, clean lines, and meticulous craftsmanship, the Brno Chair is an icon of 20th-century design.
Thin or thick
The Brno Chair with Tubular Frame is available with a thin seat that’s true to the 1930 design, or with a seat that’s slightly thicker (shown above) due to added cushioning.
Widely considered Mies van der Rohe’s defining residential work, Villa Tugendhat embodies his design ideals at every level. “There was nothing in this house that did not reflect Mies’ process of distillation to the point of utter perfection—not a window mullion, not a heating pipe, not a lighting fixture, not an ashtray,” wrote architectural historian Peter Blake in Master Builders.
Mies designed the villa’s furniture, including the Tugendhat and Brno Chairs. Up to 24 tubular-frame Brno Chairs were used throughout the home at dining tables, desks, side tables, and vanities. The original design had a thin cushion, but in 1958 Mies approved a thicker version when Philip Johnson selected the chair for the Four Seasons restaurant in the Seagram Building. As Eric Larrabee noted in Knoll Design, it was Mies himself who proposed the Brno Chair as the restaurant’s primary seating.
In 2024, Knoll revisited the Tugendhat Villa to celebrate the return of the Tugendhat Chair. Read that story below.
Regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of architecture, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe brought a less-is-more approach to everything he designed, from furniture to skyscrapers. “Architecture is a language,” wrote Mies van der Rohe. “When you are very good you can be a poet.”
For a complete list of applicable upholsteries, please visit the Surface Finish Library.
19096 | MillerKnoll Toronto Showroom with Brno Chairs, Saarinen Oval Table, Womb Chair, and Platner Side Table
17637 | Individual Private Office | Reff Profiles
16905 | Reff Profiles Individual Private Office
15606 | Private Office
14678 | Tubular Brno Chair Conference Room
14633 | Reff Profiles Executive Height Adjustable Desk
14628 | Tubular Brno Chair
14100 | Florence Knoll Dining Table
13851 | Reff Profiles with Saarinen and Brno Chairs
10428 | Florence Knoll Desk and Tubular Brno Chair
10427 | Florence Knoll Desk and Tubular Brno Chair
7394 | Florence Knoll Conference Table, Tubular Brno Chair
5593 | Tubular Brno Chair
5199 | Tubular Bar Brno Chairs and Florence Knoll Round Table
4558 | Tubular Brno Chairs
4555 | D'Urso Conference Table with Tubular Brno Chairs
3863 | D'Urso Conference Table
3718 | Brno Chairs with D'Urso Conference Table
7961 | Tubular Brno Chair
7960 | Tubular Brno Chair
6028 | Tubular Brno Chair
5288 | Flat and Tubular bar Brno Chairs
5286 | Flat Bar Tubular Brno Chairs
4448 | Tubular Brno Chair
4445 | Flat Bar Brno Chair
4444 | Tubular Brno Chair
3406 | Tubular Brno in Grande Upholstery
1508 | van der Rohe Tubular Brno Chair
1507 | Mies van der Rohe Tubular Brno Chair
869 | van der Rohe Tubular Brno Chair
860 | van der Rohe Tubular Brno Chairs
The configurator below is for reference purposes only. All options, finishes and sizes may not be represented.
For the complete scope, please refer to the KnollStudio price list.