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    Brno Chair ‑ Tubular

    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.

    Brno Chair Tubular
    Brno Chair Tubular

    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.

    Tugendhat Villa

    From Villa Tugendhat to the Four Seasons

    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.

    Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

    Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

    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.”

    Additional Info

    Construction and Details
    • Available in a wide range of KnollTextiles and Spinneybeck® leathers
    • Thin-seat version, modeled after the original 1929 specifications, is available
    • Thicker-seat version, introduced in 1958, has added padding
    • Seat has an inner hardwood frame cushioned with variable density foam; Dymetrol seat suspension enhances comfort level
    • Chrome frame: Mirror chrome-plated 11-gauge steel; the plating process includes lengthy nickel and silicone coatings for rust protection and increased durability
    • Stainless Steel frame: tubular, pre-stressed, pre-buffed 14-gauge stainless steel
    • Onyx frame: ultra-matte powder-coated tubular steel
    • Chrome and Stainless Steel chairs are polished to a mirror finish
    • Clean, seamless joints and hidden drilled or countersunk holes (as opposed to punched) render the chair free of deformation



    Dimensions

    For a complete list of applicable upholsteries, please visit the Surface Finish Library.
     

    Frame

    Configure Brno Chair ‑ Tubular

    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.


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    General Info

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