Costes
Costes chair by Philippe Starck for Driade
Starck and Driade in 1984, showcasing Starck's ingenuity, previously unfamiliar in Italy. Originally designed for the now-defunct Parisian café of the same name, the chair's timeless appeal lies in its simple yet striking form: a dark wooden frame with an innovative three-legged structure. This design was not just aesthetically pleasing but also functional and durable, crafted from simple materials. Starck's use of a tripod shape was a practical decision, minimizing obstruction and facilitating ease of movement for café staff.
In a subsequent iteration, a larger version of the chair was created for the office of French President Francois Mitterrand at the Élysée Palace, adhering to the original tripod design. This period marked the rise of the Costes chair and the Pratfall armchair as epitomes of elegance and comfort, solidifying their status as icons of contemporary design from the 1980s onwards. Characterized by a black lacquered steel frame and a bent plywood shell in mahogany veneer, these pieces are padded with polyurethane foam and can be upholstered in either leather or fabric, blending comfort with style.
Dimensions: 18.5 x 21 x 19 h in