In an effort to help office workers sit comfortably all day, Allseating is launching Prata (“to speak” in Swedish), a conference chair that utilizes an innovative mechanism concealed within its seat frame that allows users to naturally adjust their position.
When a user is seated, the suspension mechanism (inspired by vintage luxury cars), automatically reacts to their weight so they can recline comfortably, the company said. Designer Carl Gustav Magnusson of CGM Design has integrated numerous automobile-inspired features into Prata’s design, including polished aluminum seat frames that house aluminum side levers. The proprietary levers move smoothly and decisively adding confidence to the user –– just as consumers would expect from the seat and dashboard controls built into high-end cars.
“The contract market is saturated with great conference chairs, but upon closer look, we identified a common shortcoming and developed a simple, proprietary solution to improve the modern conference chair’s functionality,” Magnusson said. “It’s not enough for a chair to provide features; design matters. Paying attention to details such as where a person’s arm falls as they sit and understanding how they internalize levers will result in a chair that offers more than just features, but seamless, user-friendly functionality. This is exactly what we sought to accomplish with Prata.”
Prata’s upholstery applies traditional craftsmanship techniques of saddle-stitched seams along the chair’s undulating shape, a level of detail that is not often found in conference chairs offered on the market, the company said. Because individuals usually approach conference chairs from the back, Magnusson designed the back to have a subtle curve that is visually inviting. The shell of the chair is intentionally neutral and available in a multitude of combinations, including leather, fabric, dual fabric or contrasting patches of different materials. Prata is available in a polished aluminum finish and has two back height variations, low-back and mid-back, to expand design possibilities.
