Cantilever Chair
Four Squares

The Cantilever-Chair by Felix Schwake emerged from an architectural question: can a chair be both formally rigorous and physically comfortable without abandoning the geometric discipline of space?

The starting point of the design was the observation that, within an architectural floor plan, the ideal chair would essentially have to appear as a pure square — a consistent continuation of orthogonal spatial geometries. In reality, however, compromises almost always arise between formal clarity and ergonomic comfort. Backrests become inclined, constructions more complex, and geometries lose their consistency.

Felix Schwake questioned this apparent contradiction and developed a cantilever chair capable of fulfilling both demands simultaneously: uncompromising formal clarity and a high degree of seating comfort.

The chair is constructed from 8 mm aircraft-grade aluminum and, in its unloaded state, consists of four orthogonally connected squares. Only through the weight of the seated body does the geometry change through a minimal elastic movement. The construction flexes in a controlled manner toward the rear, thereby creating a comfortable inclined seating position.

The ergonomic function therefore emerges not through visible formal adaptation, but through the behavior of the material itself. The clear geometry remains intact while simultaneously responding flexibly to the human body.

The design exemplifies the fundamental design attitude of Felix Schwake: function should not be made visible through additional formal complexity, but should emerge precisely through construction, material, and proportion.

The cantilever chair thereby unites two requirements that are often considered contradictory within design — architectural rigor and physical comfort — within a single reduced object.