Comfortable Office Chair

The design of Physix is based on the fundamental idea of creating a continuous seat shell by stretching a fabric between two side rails. As a result, the chair stands as the latest link in a long lineage of iconic chairs, while at the same time significantly advancing the typology. Drawing on the latest advancements in materials and production technology, Alberto Meda combines three elements to create a new, dynamic seating experience: a flexible frame structure, an elastic knitted cover, and a stabilizing mechanical unit. The delicate frame construction of Physix consistently leverages the potential of modern plastics in terms of flexibility and stability. The organic side rails made of polyamide can be deformed like a flexible hinge and follow the movement of the human body as one leans back. & “Design is an interplay of rigid and flexible elements. The form only reveals itself in the process of design. & ” Alberto Meda A one-piece cover made of shaped knit fabric is stretched between the side rails, forming a self-supporting, continuous seat and backrest cushioning. For Physix, Alberto Meda and Vitra developed a multi-ply, highly durable shaped knit that is so elastic that it even allows for three-dimensional deformation of the seat shell. The Physix’s frame and knit fabric follow the user’s movements in all directions, even diagonally—for example, when the user leans back to look over their shoulder. With its transparency, the knit fabric contributes to the chair’s visual lightness and allows for subtly nuanced color combinations. A plastic frame and knit cover alone would allow for dynamic but uncontrolled movement. It is only thanks to a synchronous mechanism integrated into the chair that the Physix can offer a precisely controlled, biomechanical sequence of movements. Two distinctive aluminum brackets on the back of the chair transmit the movement of the side rails to coil springs housed in an enclosure beneath the seat. This creates a movement sequence that is precisely controlled in every seating position and adjustable based on the user’s weight.