See-through minimalism: The Faraday Stool

A tower of wire, or perhaps an electric tower or radio tower, those were what came to my mind when I came across the Faraday Stool. Though it is named after scientist Michael Faraday, renowned for his work in the field of electromagnetism, it’s good to know that the chair doesn’t shock users electrically or bombard them with radio waves.

The Faraday Stool is the brainchild of a duo of Dutch designers, Teun Fleskens and Ingmar Cramers, who are based in Eindhoven. Creating the stool wasn’t a one-shot achievement for them. Wishing to create a steel stool made solely of thin wire, they found themselves having to adapt the shape many times over before finally coming up with something that finally met their standards, something that was light yet solid, unusual yet ergonomic.

Yes, ergonomic. One wouldn’t probably believe something possible with such a stool, but the creators say that this chair is surprisingly comfortable. However, they do admit that if you will be sitting in it for more than 30 minutes, it would be advisable to avail yourself of the padded version whose seat comes in high-quality black leather.

The Faraday Stool is initially available only in chrome-plated and powder-coated versions, but plans are underway for the production of one in stainless steel. Either version of the stool would make an ideal partner for most bistro café tables and the like, since the three-layered metal chrome coating goes well with most colors. But if establishment owners prefer another color, they can opt for the powder-coated version where they can choose from among any of the hues in the RAL color space system.

The minimalist look of the Faraday Stool will appeal to many, I think. If its namesake were alive today, he’d probably feel flattered to have been the inspiration for something that the creators say should be touched, felt and lived.