The ‘A’ Chair’s creation stemmed from a personal moment. Designer Asa Pingree recalls sitting with his legs crossed, when one of his kids climbed up onto his lap and leaned into the triangular space formed by his elevated leg.
“He decided that it was very comfortable and that it was his spot,” he says. “So he really gets a design credit as well. It’s a family business!”
That moment set off an exploration into creating a chair around the void of a triangle. What started as a simple curiosity—could a chair work like that? Could it be comfortable?—evolved into something much more. The first prototypes were built to answer questions.
“And as we tried sit tests on the prototypes, we realized we had not just recreated the triangle of the legs as a supportive seat—but also the experience of the kid exploring something new,” he says. “
Despite its unique angular shape, the Asa says the chair ultimately becomes a space for users to explore, adjust, and ultimately find their “spot.” “We’re all essentially experts at sitting,” Asa says. “We don’t need to be told anything—we naturally adjust, critique, and make it work. It’s just like finding a new fit in your clothes, the way we move and present ourselves changes depending on the piece.”
Sizing was another challenge, as the team had to make sure the chair offered just the right amount of space for users to nestle into the triangular shape.
“It was never going to be the same experience for every size person, and that’s OK,” he says. “Our children actually think it’s a jungle gym.”
The “A’ chair’s sculptural form makes a statement, but its ability to engage with a room is what really makes it work. It naturally draws people in and encourages them to interact with it.
“With the amount of time we spend looking at our phones we’ve all become more introverted,” Asa says. “Of course, we all love disappearing into a comfy chair, but this is not a chair for introversion. The ‘A’ chair encourages a physicality of interaction. Not to say you can’t get comfortable—but it keeps you engaged.”
A version of this article originally appeared in “Nice Chairs” in Sixtysix Issue 14.
