MASCULO CHAIR & LOUNGE CHAIR - Gubi

GUBI LAUNCHES NEW MASCULO CHAIR
The latest take on a classic design from the GamFratesi and Gubi partnership is the
Masculo chair, which is being launched in spring 2011. This follows the considerable
international success enjoyed by their Masculo lounge, launched in 2009. Like the lounge
chair, the new chair is characterised by its Danish elegance and simplicity combined with
Italian refinement and humour.
In many ways GamFratesi embodies the meeting between Italian and Danish design. The
considered and minimal approach of the Danish design tradition has been combined with a
certain quirkiness and the desire to tell a story. The designer duo, GamFratesi comes high on
the list when design connoisseurs try to predict who is going to be the next Arne Jacobsen or
Hans Wegner. GiamFratesi’s design team, consisting of Stine Gam from Denmark and Enrico
Fratesi from Italy, has also received considerable recognition, as well as numerous awards for
their furniture designs.
The duo represents two countries that for decades have split the design world into separate
camps: those who lean towards Italian design and those who regard Arne Jacobsen and
Verner Panton as being simply the best. GamFratesi unites Danish and Italian design traditions
in a way that not only resolves the ‘conflict’, but also makes it symbolic of international design.
Now, in partnership with Gubi, they are launching a second chair in the Masculo series.
For GamFratesi, it is important that the overall concept of their designs is retained throughout
the lengthy design and industrialisation process. At the same time, quality and detailing are key
considerations. GamFratesi designs furniture that is functional, atypical and dynamic - pieces
that are practical to use in everyday situations and can be integrated easily within their
surroundings. Moreover, GamFratesi exercises an unusually in-depth approach in their work
processes, which perfectly matches Gubi’s high regard for quality.
“As designers we value ‘slowness’. Sometimes it is important not to rush things through.
Design can lose quality if the deadlines are too short,” says Stine Gam, adding: “The Masculo
chair is a good example of a project which took a long time because every detail had to be
right.”
Following the 2009 launch of the Masculo lounge, Jacob Gubi and GamFratesi came up with
the idea of producing a modern chair with armrest that would provide the natural comfort
inherent in the lounge chair. The quality, aesthetics and sitting comfort, which are so
successfully combined in the Masculo lounge, are now echoed in the Masculo chair.
“The extremely comfortable Masculo chair features armrests and has the potential to become a
modern classic, whilst also being a strong addition to our Gubi Chair collection,” says Jacob
Gubi, CEO of Gubi A/S.
The new chair design is marked by contrast. The distinctive, expressive backrest expresses an
almost aggressive masculinity, whilst the slender supporting metal frame simultaneously
embraces sophisticated, quasi-feminine detailing.
Now, with a Masculo lounge and a new Masculo chair, we see the emergence of a new,
potentially classic furniture series from Gubi.