Items Similar to Chair Beaubourg, Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent for the Centre Pompidou
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22
Chair Beaubourg, Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent for the Centre Pompidou
About the Item
a chair from the house of many names: in germany usually called „centre pompidou“, among the french also known as „centre beaubourg“, officially the „centre national d’art et de culture georges pompidou“ – and unofficially „la raffinerie“. originally conceived as a representative museum for 20th century art, the task of relieving the old paris national library was soon added. in 1971, the jury of the architectural competition chaired by jean prouvé decided in favour of the project by richard rogers and renzo piano. prouvé was not an architect (but a trained art smith, artist and constructor, today one would say „designer“). on the one hand, this led to international discussions, but on the other hand it also meant that the centre pompidou became, as it were, a total work of art: it was not only about the building itself, but also about the furnishing of the exhibition rooms, the library and even the offices.
the architecture itself was avant-garde – but consistently functional: the building is a machine. the functions that are usually hidden inside were moved to the outer shell and remained visible: supporting structure and pipes (white), stairs and escalators (red), electrics (yellow), water (blue) and air conditioning (green). this creates large, uninterrupted areas inside, ideal for flexible use. and, of course, also an ideal target for conservative critics who saw the brute appearance as an affront. the centre was opened in 1977 after five years of construction and today houses the musée national d’art moderne (mnam, museum of modern art) and the library bibliothèque publique d’information (bpi) with over 400,000 media and 2,000 reading places (as well as the music research centre ircam, a children’s workshop, cinema, theatre and lecture halls, a bookshop, a restaurant & café).
and it was for this library in the centre pompidou that the „beaubourg chair“ was developed. conceived by rogers / piano, designed by michel cadestin and georges laurent, chosen by the jury under jean prouvé. the chair consists of a steel frame with a wire mesh seat and back.
- Creator:Michel Cadestin (Designer),Georges Laurent (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 76 in (193.04 cm)Width: 51 in (129.54 cm)Depth: 50 in (127 cm)Seat Height: 46 in (116.84 cm)
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Frankfurt am Main, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU9031237005412
Beaubourg Chair
Designed by Michel Cadestin
As far as designer star power goes, the Beaubourg chair just may top the list for its contributors.
First conceived by prizewinning architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano in the early 1970s for the Centre Pompidou, the pair’s groundbreaking modern art museum and event space in Paris, the chair design was ultimately completed by Michel Cadestin (b. 1942) and Georges Laurent (1886–1964). The work was crowned the winner of a competition judged by none other than the legendary French metalworker and designer Jean Prouvé, himself no stranger to revered furniture pieces.
The final Beaubourg chair design, first produced in 1976 by Teda and named for the Centre Pompidou’s neighborhood (and the museum project’s working title), marries a supple leather seat and back with a frame of latticed stainless steel, joined together with simple metal studs. The metal form echoes the skeletal architecture of the Pompidou itself — the “inside-out” appearance of which, with its arrangement of multicolored pipes and electrical components positioned prominently on the building’s exterior, caused a wide range of reactions in Paris and in the design and architecture communities at large. National Geographic, for its part, famously claimed the building elicited “love at second sight,”' while a critic at The Guardian called it “hideous.”
In addition to the Beaubourg chair, Laurent and Cadestin devised a bench version in the 1970s. Both models were installed in the Centre Pompidou at its opening in 1977 but have since been replaced throughout the museum. No longer in production, the chairs live on as popular collector’s items, significant for both their distinctive design and their indelible connection to one of the most important buildings of postmodernism.
About the Seller
No Reviews Yet
Vetted Seller
These experienced sellers undergo a comprehensive evaluation by our team of in-house experts.
Established in 2011
1stDibs seller since 2023
6 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 3 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- 4-Set Slung Rope Dining Chairs by Frida Minet and Adrien Audoux for Vibo VesoulBy Vibo, Adrien Audoux and Frida MinnetLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEa set of four ‚slung rope‘ dining chairs, designed by audoux-minet for french manufacturer ‚vibo vesoul‘ in marseille, ca. 1950. here comes the whole story about this french rural chairs...Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsRope, Oak
- Modular Table Bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller with Pierre Frey cushionBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DE“design is a response to social change“ george nelson said, the director of design with office furniture manufacturer herman miller. economic growth and larger companies lead to rapi...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Chair 4050, calles Revolt Chair by Friso Kramer for Ahrend de Cirkel, 1954By Ahrend de Cirkel, Friso KramerLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEone of our favourite designs is probably the most famous chair by the dutch designer friso kramer: chair 4060, called „revolt“, produced by ahrend-decirkel, presented for the first t...Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsSteel
- Junior Swivel Chair by Yrjö Kukkapuro for Haimi, Finnland, 1966By Yrjö Kukkapuro, HaimiLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DESince 1959 Yrjö Kukkapuro worked from his own studio, researching and developing ergonomic seating furniture in particular, which on the one hand often looks very futuristic but on t...Category
Mid-20th Century Finnish Mid-Century Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Sphère Lounge Chair by Boris Tabacoff for M. M. M., cushion with dedar fabricBy Mobilier Modulair Moderne, Boris TabacoffLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEspace age and the race to the moon had a strong influence on global culture: from architecture to film, from fashion to furniture. interior design became increasingly experimental: e...Category
Vintage 1970s French Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Set of 2 children chairs 2015 by Walter Papst for Wilkhahn, 1961By Wilkhahn, Walter PapstLocated in Frankfurt am Main, DEset for 2 children chairs 2015 by walter papst for wilkhahn. blue fiberglas and white steel tube frame with a distinct patina. here comes the whole story: „the harmonious design ...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
You May Also Like
- 1976 Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent Beaubourg Chair Teda for Centre PompidouBy Teda, Georges Laurent, Michel CadestinLocated in Philadelphia, PAThis is a single (multiple chairs are available, though the price listed is for each chair) original Beaubourg chair from the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. The chair was designed...Category
Vintage 1970s French Modern Side Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent Set of Four "Beaubourg" Dining Chairs, 1976By Michel Cadestin, Georges LaurentLocated in New York, NYRare set of four "Beaubourg" dining chairs in steel with leather seat and back pads designed by Michel Cadestin and Georges Laurent for the Pomidou Centre in Paris, France, 1976. Out...Category
Vintage 1970s French Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of Eight Beaubourg Chairs Designed by Michel Cadestin and Georges LaurentBy Georges Laurent, Michel CadestinLocated in Stamford, CTA matched set of eight Michel Cadestin and Georges Laurent leather and metal Beaubourg chairs, from the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. These chairs were designed in 1976 for the com...Category
Vintage 1970s French Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of four Michel Cadestin & Georges Laurent Beaubourg chairsBy Georges Laurent, Michel CadestinLocated in New Orleans, LAA matched set of four Michel Cadestin and Georges Laurent leather and metal Beaubourg chairs, from the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. These chairs were designed in 1976 for the comp...Category
Antique 19th Century French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Beaubourg Chair in Steel and Leather by Michel Cadestin and Georges LaurentBy Georges Laurent, Michel CadestinLocated in Philadelphia, PAMichel Cadestin and Georges Laurent Beaubourg Chair, 1976 Steel and leather 19.5 x 20 x 30 in The Beaubourg chair was conceived by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and designed specif...Category
Vintage 1970s French Side Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Beaubourg Chair in Steel and Fabric by Michel Cadestin and Georges LaurentBy Michel CadestinLocated in Paris, FRMichel Cadestin and Georges Laurent Beaubourg chair, 1976 Steel and fabric. . The Beaubourg chair was designed by Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano and designed especially for the Center Pompidou in Paris. . The final shape was created by Cadestin and Laurent and chosen as the winning chair for the order by a jury chaired...Category
Vintage 1970s French Chairs
MaterialsSteel
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Tropical Sun Rattan Dining
Oversized Dining Chairs
Leon Rosen For Pace Chair
Mahogany Dining Side Chairs Upholstered Seat
Set Of 6 Dining Room Chairs Baker
Chartreuse Dining Chair
Nail Head Seat Dining Chairs
Swiss Back Dining Chair
Danish Teakwood
Pierre Cardin High Chairs
Marilyn Tray Tables
Stackable Vintage Metal Chairs
Danish Modern Set Of Six Dining Chairs
Piero Bottoni
Foster Mcdavid Dining Set
Giorgio Rinaldi
Mathieu Mategot Tropique
Mcguire Cathedral