Chairs. They’re something that we use every day. Yet, they’re also something that we overlook and under-appreciate. From IKEA stools to park benches, there’s actually a lot of thought that goes behind the design of these supportive pieces of furniture. 

That’s why the chair exhibition at the GDP Campus organised by HAUS and in collaboration with furniture brand Vitra was so fascinating.

Designed and curated by Rplus, a strategic design unit under GDP Architects, this showcase provides an insight into the history and evolution of the humble chair. 

“Please,” the exhibition politely greets, “Have a seat.”

Well, we took several, and here’s how the experience went. 

Form, function, future 

“Please, Have a Seat: One Chair at a Time” takes us through the journey of the chair in a linear timeline, starting from the 1930s. 

This decade till the 50s is classified as “Function”, describing a period of simplicity and austerity. Chair designs from this era is coloured by the challenges of war and the resulting scarcity. With that comes functional and utilitarian designs.  

The 60s, 70s, and 80s, though, brought a new wave of distinct visual languages. With ample financial and cultural progress in this time period, designers felt a lessened need to be practical, thus bringing in lots of interesting designs to the table. 

From the 90s onward, there was a return to pragmatism. With the advent of the internet, there was a more global approach to design.   

An outstanding experience at a chair exhibition

The showcase gives context to not just chairs throughout the years and their design, but also other facts about the era to explain what shaped the culture at the time.  

It was fascinating how interactive the showcase was, with corresponding chairs by Vitra present on site for visitors to actually try out. Sitting on these chairs and reading the information on the walls made it feel especially immersive. 

Although we didn’t expect it, we were thoroughly entertained by all the different forms of chairs presented.  

Even if you aren’t all that interested in design and furniture, doesn’t sitting around in different chairs sound like a fun way to spend your afternoon? 

Well, we certainly thought so. 

Weaving design stories

This showcase is actually part of a dual exhibition—downstairs at Testing Ground, the in-house cafe of the GDP Campus, is “The Vitra Effect: Design Beyond the Product”. 

A must-visit for designers, enthusiasts, and students, this is a visual summary of Vitra’s philosophy towards design. At Vitra, designers are regarded as “authors”, imparting their personality and identity on their pieces of work. 

For the uninitiated, GDP Architects is a multidisciplinary architectural and design practice founded in 1990.

They’ve worked on many iconic designs, such as Malaysia’s first Apple Store in TRX, which was designed in collaboration with Foster and Partners. 

Their own campus, unveiled just months ago, is perhaps the most symbolic of their design approach.

Both of these showcases—“The Vitra Effect: Design Beyond the Product” and “Please, Have a Seat”—are ongoing from now until January 5, 2025. 

There were guided tours of “Please, Have a Seat” available, but unfortunately they’ve already reached the sign-up limit. Rest assured that even a self-guided experience can still be very informative, though. 

We hope that the GDP Campus will continue to host wonderful events and exhibitions like these. 

Learn more about Vitra here.

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