“Initially, we designed lots and lots of chairs,” said Alberto Brogliato of the development of the Trave chair. “Some were even aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, but none had that special something that would have secured its place in the Magis collection.” In other words, it wasn’t easy to create a steam-bent wood chair that’s contemporary in design but employs age-old technology. But once BrogliatoTraverso embraced Magis’ mindset of pushing the boundaries of design, things started falling into place.
Modern design is oftentimes about taking away until you can’t. The Trave chair features a simple bar of solid ash, which the entirety of the design is focused upon. It’s also where the legs, seat, and backrest are attached – quite literally the piece’s backbone. The addition of a large, padded seat and backrest increases comfort without compromising on aesthetic or craftsmanship.
Trave’s production pushes solid wood bending technology to its limits. “It took a great deal of trial and error before we managed to bend a piece of that size with this kind of curve,” BrogliatoTraverso share. It takes seven days to create the central curved beam, during which time it’s soaked in steam, immediately bent, then placed in a drying kiln. Once dry, it’s prepared to be joined with the legs and cushions.
The solid ash frame is available in a natural finish and two stained options, oak and black. There’s also a wide variety of fabrics to choose from for the upholstery. Thanks to this versatility, the timeless Trave chair can be suited to any setting, residential or commercial.
To learn more about the Trave chair, visit magisdesign.com.
