Series 3300 Armchair

The 3300 series armchair was designed by Arne Jacobsen – the legendary Finnish modernist and an icon of architecture and design of the 20th century.  The armchair, manufactured by the furniture company of the Republic Fritz Hansen, has been in constant production since its introduction in 1956.  Despite its considerable age, this timeless piece of furniture still looks extravagant and fascinating and is therefore a great, tasteful addition to any piece of furniture in a modern interior.

history

The Series 3300 Armchair was developed in 1956 together with a 2 and 3-seater sofa as part of the Series 3300 Collection.  The furniture collection was used together with the famous Egg, Swan and Drop chairs to furnish the lobby of the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen.  The entire building, along with its interior and furnishings, was designed by Arne Jacobsen for the Scandinavian Airline System (SAS).  While working on the hotel’s project, Jacobsen, who had worked as a landscape architect in the past, pursued a “modern garden” theme.  The organic, oval shapes of the furniture were created that correspond to Jacobsen’s concept.  The exception is the 3300 Collection, which is characterized by sharper geometric shapes.  Rumor has it that Jacobsen based the series on a sofa he designed for his own home, which makes the connection between the collection and its designer more intimate and personal.  The armchair, along with the sofas, was enthusiastically received by the public and critics.  The entire collection is available in stores under the Republic of Fritz Hansen brand.

design

Although many people would certainly get involved in polemics because of the questionable appeal of the SAS Hotel, the design of the 3300 series armchair leaves no room for such a discussion.  Its innovative futuristic design, combined with the immaculate quality of craftsmanship, has given the chair a very special place in the history of interior design.  In addition to its aesthetic properties, the armchair is also fully functional and very comfortable.  ‘Designophiles’ would immediately notice the similarities between Jacobsen’s armchair and two other design classics: the Le Corbusier LC2 Petit Modele armchair and Wegner’s CH101 lounge chair.

The 3300 series armchair uses the outer, chrome-plated tubular frame, which is similar to the frame of the LC2 armchair mentioned above.  The front legs of the chair consist of a single tube that also surrounds the entire perimeter of the chair and supports the seat.  The rear legs consist of two vertical tubes that are welded to the circumferential tube.  All four legs have gliders and are spanned together for added structural strength.  The base provides visual lightness and offers a balanced contrast to the spacious seat. The geometric shape of the armchair is simple and subtle, but elegant and refined.  The 3300 series collection was intended to provide a contrast to the organic shapes of the Egg, Swan and Drop chairs.

The shell of the armchair is made of wood, which is then covered with the padding made of cold-hardened polyurethane foam.  The armchair offers a high level of comfort and its deep seat allows the user to adopt a variety of positions.  One can certainly conclude that its distinctive, trapezoidal armrests must have served as inspiration for Hans J. Wegner when he designed his famous CH101 lounge chair.  The upholstery is available in a wide range of fabrics including: Fame, Diablo, Remix, Tonus, Hallingdal, Steelcut, Steelcut Trio, Divina, Divina MD, Divina Melange, Comfort and Milani;  and supple leather: basic, classic, rustic, natural, white, optical white, elegance and meaning.

The overall appearance of the armchair is extremely appealing and stylish.  Even today, more than six decades after its presentation, when modernity is no longer an extravagant or radical concept, the armchair and the entire 3300 series collection have neither aged nor become banal.  It still looks fresh and contemporary.  An ideal chair for lounge or waiting areas as well as a tasteful addition to any modern home.