Who designed the Cubica armchair?

The architect Antoni Bonet designed Cubica in 1955. Isist Atelier reissued it in 2020.

What inspired Cubica?

Cubica is Antoni Bonet's interpretation of the historic safari chair used by the British army, designed for the space between a living room and a dining room.

What is Cubica made of?

Cubica has a solid ash frame with a water-based varnish, brass screws, axles, and buckles, and a seat, folding back, and armrests in 100% vegetable-tanned leather.

Where were the first Cubica chairs used?

The first Cubica chairs were made for Casa Gomis, also known as La Ricarda, a house Antoni Bonet designed near Barcelona.

Does Cubica come assembled?

Yes. Cubica is a knock-down chair, but Isist Atelier delivers it assembled.

What colours does Cubica come in?

Cubica comes in two versions: natural leather on natural ash, and black leather on black-stained ash.

Cubica Armchair

€1.725,00

Taxes included. Free shipping to the UK and Europe on orders over €185.

Cubica is a knock-down armchair designed by the architect Antoni Bonet in 1955 and reissued by Isist Atelier in 2020. It is Bonet's take on the safari chair used by the British army: a solid ash frame with brass fittings, and a seat, folding back, and armrests in vegetable-tanned leather, made by hand in Barcelona.

Designer	Antoni Bonet (Barcelona, 1913–1989)
Year	1955; reissued by Isist Atelier in 2020
Maker	Isist Atelier, Barcelona (founded 1954)
Frame	Solid ash, water-based varnish, delivered assembled
Fittings	Brass screws, axles, and buckles, made to measure
Seat, back, and armrests	100% vegetable-tanned Standard leather
Versions	Natural leather on natural ash, or black leather on black-stained ash
Dimensions	W 61 × D 60 × H 70 cm
Made in	Barcelona, Spain

Who designed Cubica?

Antoni Bonet (1913–1989) was a Barcelona-born architect and urban planner, and one of the three designers behind the BKF chair of 1938. He designed Cubica in 1955 as his own reading of the historic safari chair used by the British army, for the space between the living room and the dining room. The first Cubica chairs were made for Casa Gomis, also known as La Ricarda, one of Bonet's best-known houses, near Barcelona.

How is Cubica made?

The frame is solid ash with a water-based varnish, and the chair arrives assembled. The screws, axles, and buckles are brass, made to measure. The seat, folding back, and armrests are 100% vegetable-tanned leather, cut and made by hand in Isist Atelier's Barcelona workshop.

What is vegetable-tanned leather?

Vegetable-tanned leather is tanned with natural tannins from tree bark and wood, such as chestnut, mimosa, or quebracho, rather than with the chromium salts used for most leather today. The process takes weeks rather than a day or two, and gives a dense, full-bodied leather with a warm, woody smell. It feels firm when new and softens as it is used. Isist Atelier uses 100% vegetable-tanned leather for the seat, back, and armrests of Cubica.

How will the leather change over time?

Vegetable-tanned leather darkens and takes on a patina with light, touch, and use. Natural leather changes the most, moving from a pale tan towards a deeper honey colour; darker leathers change more subtly. On Cubica, the armrests will darken first. Small marks, creases, and variations in tone come from the hide itself and are not defects, and no two pieces age in quite the same way.

How do you care for vegetable-tanned leather?

Dust it with a soft, dry cloth. If it gets wet, blot it straight away and let it dry naturally, away from radiators and other direct heat. Every few months, or whenever it looks dry, apply a little colourless balm or cream made for vegetable-tanned leather, testing it first on a hidden spot. Avoid solvents and household cleaners. Leather is not waterproof, so keep the chair out of the rain, and out of strong direct sun if you want natural leather to darken evenly.

Most pieces are made to order. We confirm your delivery date by email after you order.

Free shipping to the UK and Europe on orders over €185. You have 14 days from delivery to change your mind, including for pieces made to order. See our Shipping policy and Return and refund policy.

Designed by

Antoni Bonet

Spanish, Argentinian

Antoni Bonet (Barcelona, 1913–1989) was an architect, urban planner, and designer who spent most of his working life on the River Plate. He began in 1935 in the Barcelona office of Josep Lluís Sert and Josep Torres Clavé, as a member of the GATCPAC group, and in 1936 joined Le Corbusier's studio in Paris, where he met Juan Kurchan and Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy. In 1938 the three founded Grupo Austral in Buenos Aires and designed the BKF chair. In Argentina and Uruguay he built the Casa de Estudios para Artistas in Buenos Aires, the Terraza Palace in Mar del Plata, and much of Punta Ballena on the Uruguayan coast, where he drew up the urban plan and designed the Solana del...

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