A breadth of designs exist between David Rowland’s iconic 40/4 chair and unconventional creations such as Greek studio CTRLZAK’s Quartz Armchair. Among the mélange are chairs designed to meet the needs of anything from bustling cafeterias to cozy offices, and to chic cafés. This week, we’re spotlighting a handful of such pieces whose contemporary forms, resilient materials, and versatility put a stylish—and comfortable—spin on the single seat.
Coach Chair, Jean-Marie Massaud for Avenue Road
Styled for use in applications ranging from residential living areas to corporate suites, the frame on this contemporary swivel chair is made from 60% flax fiber and 40% organic resin. By French designer Jean-Marie Massaud for Avenue Road, the Coach Chair is offered with an optional headrest and footrest, and three stainless steel bases: low sled, low swivel, and high swivel. With a wide, plush interior and eco-friendly shell, this chair offers users the perfect excuse to get off of their feet.

Y Chair, Tom Dixon
During a redesign of the New York office of ad agency McCann Erickson, the designers at Tom Dixon Studio found the space wanting for resilient, stackable conference room chairs that were a step up, design-wise, from the options currently on the market, Fast Companyreports. The result is the Y Chair, which features a seat made from injection-molded glass reinforced nylon to help it stand up to high-frequency uses, such as restaurants and offices, and construction that offers lower back support. Available with a sled or swivel base.

701 Chair, Petrified Design
From Austin, Texas-based studio Petrified Design, the stackable 701 Café Chair comprises a wood seat and back and a steel-rod frame. For use indoors or outdoors, the custom-made chairs are offered in a variety of wood species, including cypress (shown) and frame powder-coatings (pastel green, shown).

Sylki, Pod Design
Molded for ergonomics from recycled metal, Sylki from designer Brooks Atwood’s Brooklyn-based studio Pod Design also touts a humanitarian bent: Twenty percent of each sale will go to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The chair’s indentations and laser-cut perforations distribute seating loads among a user’s joints. And at 4 lbs., the chair weighs less than a (full) bottle of wine.

Heritage Chair, Carl Hansen & Søn
With a Modernist frame that divulges a plush interior, the Heritage Chair was first designed in 1930 by Danish craftsman Frits Henningsen for Carl Hansen & Søn. The furniture maker is reissuing the chair with a beech frame and oak or walnut legs. It is upholstered by hand in fabric or leather—a process that takes more than 10 hours per chair.

Heel Chair, Nendo for Moroso
Designed to emulate the silhouette of a spiked-heel shoe, the Heel Chair by Tokyo-based studio Nendo for Italian furniture maker Moroso gets its unique shape from its rear legs, which extend from the chair’s back rather than its seat. The resulting form suspends the chair’s seat while leaving its back open for visual interest. The stackable chair is available in beech with a natural oiled finish or in five colored lacquers.
