Read more from NeoCon 2022.
At this point in Emeco’s history, we know to expect great things. “Utility,” the new chairs designed by Jasper Morrison, follow suit with a purposeful and utilitarian design, made from solid wood and recycled aluminum with the promise to last for years to come.
Utility’s classic form is more inviting and sensible than it is revolutionary, but the attention to detail and craftsmanship sets the chair apart. The chair’s simple form gives the impression that Utility could have been around for decades; its sturdy and thoughtful construction ensures that it will.
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- The steam-bent backrest is fixed at the ideal angle for comfort. Courtesy of Emeco
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- The Utility chair is available with armrests. Courtesy of Emeco
“The design makes use of standard Emeco square section tube and combines it with a solid wood seat and backrest, resulting in a chair with comfort and durability, ideal for kitchen, café and restaurant use,” Jasper says. That tube constructs the Utility frame and footrest, which exactly matches Emeco’s iconic Navy Chair.
The product family includes chairs, armchairs, and stools in two heights. Built with solid wood sustainably sourced from Appalachian forests, the seats and backs are steam-bent and hand-shaped to perfectly meet the aluminum frame at the ideal angle for comfort and strength.
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- Visible joints bring attention to the meticulous design and manufacturing process behind the chairs. Courtesy of Emeco
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- Courtesy of Emeco
Meanwhile, the steel frame provides stability and strength to last. The recycled aluminum frame is handcrafted at Emeco’s Pennsylvania factory, following the same signature 77-step process that creates the Navy Chair. Utility’s carefully selected materials and meticulous design process intend to give the chair the longest life and smallest environmental impact possible.
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- The chairs are available in two aluminum finishes and several wood stains. Courtesy of Emeco
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- Courtesy of Emeco
The chair frames come in Emeco’s signature hand brushed, clear anodized finish, or a black powder coated finish, while the wood is available in Natural Ash, Dark stained Ash, Oak, Walnut and Accoya, an acetylated pine wood, suitable for outdoor use. The chairs will be available to order in September this year.
“Utility is an honest, well-made chair that will support you day in and day out, ready to be passed down for generations. Made with consideration down to the last detail, Utility embodies the appreciation for long-lasting design and craftsmanship that Emeco and Jasper Morrison share,” Gregg Buchbinder, Emeco owner, says.
