Paulistano

Paulistano is an armchair which was designed in 1957 by Paulo Mendes da Rocha and was, for many years, part of the lounge of the Paulista Athletic Club. The constructivist concept of the structure, made up from a single bended steel bar and a leather cover, give this armchair an aesthetic lightness and an incomparable comfort. Paulistano shows that the purity and the elegance of its lines are timeless, with an exceptional comfort. The cotton canvas version is the 1957 original. This is a 'must-have' armchair that has been included in the famous permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art of New York (MoMA). It is available in carbon steel, stainless steel and also in a powder coated version. The carbon steel is the original raw material used in 1957 for manufacturing the first Paulistano armchair. The carbon steel structure is phosphatised; the process of phosphatisation is a surface treatment done in order to stop the first main oxidation although the structure will oxidize slowly with time. Oxidation (iron oxide) is a natural phenomenon. Paulo Mendes da Rocha wanted the appearance of the structure to change, to evolve with time, according to the modernist precepts. According to him, the charm of a piece of furniture resides in its "un-permanent" character. As the leather will patinate over the years, the structure will also acquire patina. The carbon surface is delicate and can be marked easily. Paulistano has an outdoor version made of a black or white powder coated frame and a canvas cover. The canvas cover is made of 100% cotton treated for outdoor use (water-proof, rot-proof, and stain-proof). The colours available are: natural, gold, paprika, turquoise green, blue grey, taupe grey, olive grey, beige. The resistance to UV is good. However, as with any natural material, the colour will fade with time if placed in direct sunlight. The canvas cover is suitable for indoor or outdoor use.