Made of iron, aluminum, and cord, the Vermelha Chair was inspired by materials and traditions of Brazilian weaving. Thread was intertwined to form the ropes, which were then hand-woven into upholstery. “We always say that first comes the material, then the form, and finally we elaborate the function of the product by studying its ergonomics, limitations, and capabilities,” explained Fernando and Humberto Campana, brothers and design partners. “The streets of São Paulo are a sort of laboratory for our designs. Whenever we need inspiration, we rely on the chaos and beauty of the city we live in.”

The brothers purchased a large bunch of rope from a street stall and brought it back to their studio. They carefully studied the chaotic shape that the construction of the ropes formed when piled on a table. “At that moment we both looked at each other and almost simultaneously remarked, this is the chair we want to build. It is a representation of Brazil in its beautiful chaos and deconstructiveness.”

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Manufacturer Edra Mazzei, Pisa, Italy
Medium Iron with epoxy coating, aluminum, and cord
Dimensions 31 × 31 1/2 × 22 3/4" (78.7 × 80 × 57.8 cm)
Credit Gift of Patricia Phelps de Cisneros
Object number 290.1999
Department Architecture & Design

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Fernando Campana

Fernando Campana

Brazilian, 1961–2022 5 works online

Musing over the origins of his Vermelha (Red) Chair (1993), Humberto Campana reflected, “The idea emerged when we bought a large bundle of rope from a street stall and brought it back to the studio.

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