Design for Decades with Rex Kralj
Some furniture designs are so quintessential that they become part of a collective memory. The Shell Chair by Niko Kralj is one of them. Its design, a seating shell composed of two similarly curved parts, is reminiscent of minimalism. Simultaneously, the shape is welcoming and supportive.
The concept for the Shell Chair was developed in the late fifties, at a time when it was only possible to develop complex shapes by making endless reiterations of the same model. They were prototyped to test comfort, shape and construction. With no idea of the future possibilities of 3D engineering, it took several years and a team of professionals for the ultimate curves to be developed.
At the time, Niko Kralj was head of design at the Stol Kamnik chair factory, meaning he had all the resources to develop such chairs at his fingertips. The Shell Chairs were produced with no upholstery due to fabric shortages, therefore the elemental shape had to be ergonomically perfect, as well as cost effective and reproducible at large volumes.
The outcome was called Lupina, or Shell Chair, and whilst projected for use in homes and offices, the chairs were built to fit any space and so the piece also serves in hotels, airports and theatres. Whilst the Shell Chair wasn’t necessarily regarded as a special piece to own, in retrospect its design has never been surpassed in composition, comfort or execution.
Today the Shell Collection remains a best-seller for Rex Kralj and comprises several versions, both low and high, and with- and without arms and upholstery.
This year, the model served as inspiration for the brand’s latest outdoor chair design. Designer Tom Fereday accepted the challenge of designing Rex Kralj’s Zelo Collection, made entirely from steel wire.
“Zelo is an outdoor iteration of the classic Shell Chair design by Niko Kralj,” comments Fereday. “Formed from a refined wire frame, the chair celebrates the iconic ‘mirrored’ form, and builds upon the democratic ethos of Rex Kralj creating iconic pieces for the many.”
