The Sectio Chair was born from a deep desire to blend elements the designer duo at Évoque Lab hold in high regard: architecture, graphic design, and Japanese culture. “We wanted to create an object that reveals its essence through the act of cutting—an essential act to fully understand the structure of a body,” says designer Emanuele Longo.
This approach led to the chair’s name, Sectio, inspired by abstract shapes similar to Japanese ideograms. The chair has a strong monolithic presence, capturing these influences in its mass and structure.
The inspiration for the design came from observing the inner workings of everyday objects. “It may seem unusual,“ says designer Paola Frascerra. “We observed objects like the opening mechanism of a remote control. Fascinated by its geometry, we found the key to identifying its structure.”
For the color palette, the designers didn’t overthink the choice. “We selected the hue that represents our favorite time of day—the one that evokes summer evenings in the places where we were born: the fiery colors of the sunset,” Emanuele says. The chair features rich oranges and reds, infusing it with warmth and vitality.
Resin, the primary material used in the Sectio Chair, was chosen for its ability to reflect light in fascinating ways. “Resin has an inherent magic, allowing it to reveal various shades with light exposure depending on thickness, adding depth and richness to the piece,” Paola says.
The material’s shifting hues also connect directly to the architectural theme of the chair. “The front, being the thickest part, appears darker, while as we move inward, it gradually becomes lighter—just like in an architectural drawing, where thick lines transition into finer ones to convey depth and structure.”
A version of this article originally appeared in “Nice Chairs” in Sixtysix Issue 14.
