During a year like no other, the 18th edition of the London Design Festival is currently underway online and in-person. Among the line-up of launches and events across the nine days of the festival’s dynamic program, British designer Lee Broom has unveiled ‘Maestro’, a sculptural dining chair that is inspired by the designer’s fondness for classical music and its instruments.
“The ‘Maestro’ chair features an original silhouette inspired by Lee Broom’s long-held passion for mid-century design and, perhaps more significantly, his great love of classical music,” says a statement from the design house.
As part of the festival’s Shoreditch Design Triangle program, the Lee Broom showroom in the area will host an engaging window installation of the new chairs. The designer has also composed a captivating, Covid-friendly short film to coincide with the launch.
The nearly five-minute film – directed by Tupac Martir of Satore Studio – is divided into three dramatically lit scenes and features 30 musicians from the Parallax Orchestra, all seated on rich-red upholstered ‘Maestro’ chairs. Immersed in moments of red and white light amid a blackened set, the orchestra plays three pieces from composers Edvard Grieg, Claude Debussy and Joseph Haydn.
The contours of the ‘Maestro’ chair have been created by three continuous hand-bent, hand-polished and plated tubes.
“Reminiscent of the coils and wraps of musical instruments, the contours of the ‘Maestro’ chair have been created by three continuous hand-bent, hand-polished and plated tubes, which form a seamless, circular-like embrace around the chair’s upholstered seat and back,” says a statement from Lee Broom.
One metal tube forms the front legs. Another tube sweeps gently underneath the upholstered seat while the third tube forms the back legs. “A subtle, but intricate twist of the tubes, which at once creates beauty and symmetry, but also its fundamental purpose, enabling the chair’s fixings to be entirely disguised.”
The frame of the ‘Maestro’ chair will be available in three finishes: soft satin brass, high-shine mirrored chrome and matte black. The chair seat and backrest can be upholstered in velvet or wool in a range of colours and textures.
London Design Festival concludes September 20.
leebroom.com; londondesignfestival.com
