A cantilever changes the experience of sitting: the motion and sway of the chair become part of the experience. Instead of resting rigidly on four legs, the tubular steel structure flexes subtly in response to the movements of the body.
Barber Osgerby’s first cantilever chair brings a new kind of movement to the Plan Collection. The latest addition to Fredericia’s Plan Collection by Barber Osgerby, and the British studio’s first cantilever chair, it is developed from the original Plan Chair, introduced in 2022. Retaining the collection’s hallmark – tubular steel, a light footprint and a seat and back shaped with the body in mind – the result is an archetypal chair with a different kind of movement.
Its construction also changes the chair visually. Seen from behind, the absence of rear legs makes the seat appear almost suspended, an effect particularly important for a chair that is often encountered around a table.
"The rear view has always held a particular magic," says designer Jay Osgerby. "The seat appears to levitate, and since chairs are so often seen from behind, that view really matters. Plan Cantilever Chair is incredibly simple, but also rather cute and full of character."
Plan Cantilever Chair retains the material versatility of the wider Plan Collection, with options ranging from plywood to upholstery and a choice of textiles and leathers. The upholstery is made without glue, making it easy to repair, or replace, while each component can be recycled. The tubular steel frame is available in six finishes, allowing the chair to belong naturally to the existing Plan family while giving the cantilever version its own distinct expression.
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