A compact armchair combining the best qualities of three KOMA chairs.

The embracing backrest and smoothly connected arms support a natural, comfortable sitting position. Its compact proportions are designed to fit smaller frames comfortably, while offering both relaxed seating and practicality for dining or desk work.

From moments of relaxation to everyday tasks, the nyuto chair adapts naturally to a variety of settings.

Designer's Story

The seat height of a chair is largely determined by how it is intended to be used—whether as a dining chair, lounge chair, floor chair, or counter chair.

For a dining chair, the seat height generally ranges from 380 to 450 mm, covering everything from a smaller person sitting without shoes to an average-sized person using the chair in a restaurant. From there, I determine the depth and angle of the seat, followed by the angle and height of the backrest. Connecting these points creates the fundamental lines that define the chair.

The design and engineering process then begins by building around those lines while finding the most appropriate structure. At the same time, I consider the balance between elements of craftsmanship—such as forms that can only be achieved by hand—and the practical requirements of a product, including the efficiency of machine production. This balance also helps determine the appropriate scale of production.

For the nyuto chair, I focused primarily on activities such as dining and desk work. Along with comfort, I wanted it to be practical for everyday use, so I designed it to be compact and easy to store.

I started with the backrest of the cocoda chair, which was designed with a particular focus on sitting comfort. To make the chair easier to store without compromising that comfort, I incorporated the front legs and armrest design of the maerge chair. To bring these elements together, I used the structural approach of the curva chair.

The result is a single chair that brings together the strengths of several chairs, each originally designed with a different structure and concept.

Written by Shigeki Matsuoka