Frankfurter: A Chair That Is Both Ordinary and Remarkable
Swedish design brand Blå Station introduces Frankfurter, a new chair designed by Johan Ansander. At first glance, it appears effortlessly simple, yet closer inspection reveals a considered focus on the human body, materiality, and proportion, resulting in a piece that feels both intuitive and quietly distinctive.
A graduate of Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, Ansander was recruited directly after completing his degree project and has collaborated closely with Blå Station since 2020. Their partnership is defined by trust, curiosity, and a shared commitment to long term exploration, allowing ideas to evolve through open dialogue and experimentation. In creating Frankfurter, Ansander sought a pared back form with a more tactile and bodily presence than his previous work. Inspiration came from the familiar curve of his own forearm, translating into generous volumes and a calm, cohesive silhouette. This sensitivity is particularly evident where the backrest meets the rear legs, a junction that balances structural clarity with gentle fluidity.
Crafted from moulded beech, a Swedish wood commonly used in industrial production, the chair embodies durability on multiple levels. Designed for everyday life, Frankfurter is robust, resilient, and built to endure, drawing inspiration from the functional chairs of the mid 1930s that were created to withstand movement, use, and time without compromising comfort or form.Its name offers a subtle nod to history, while its expression remains firmly contemporary. Frankfurter does not seek to impress, yet through its restraint and honesty, it becomes something quietly exceptional. For Blå Station, courage is not an aesthetic statement but a working method. It is the courage to take time, to trust conviction, and to place the object above the ego of its creator. This philosophy, deeply embedded in the company’s identity, continues through its collaboration with Ansander, resulting in a chair that is understated yet purposeful, familiar yet meticulously crafted. Frankfurter stands as a testament to the belief that true courage is not about being the loudest, but about enduring the longest.
Find the Frankfurter chair here
Image Courtesy of Blå Station
