PFALZBERGER
Die gute Form
Awarded furniture design
Exhibition 28/03/ - 30/05/2024
Die gute Form
The term „Die gute Form“ was first used in 1949 at the Swiss ‚Mustermesse‘ in Basel in a special exhibition for everyday objects and furniture. The event was organized by the Swiss Werkbund with the support of the Federal Department of Home Affairs and was based on the ideas and plans by architect Max Bill.
The exhibition was introduced with the definition of good form:
«With ‘good form’ we mean a natural form of a product, developed from its function and technical prerequisites, which fully corresponds to its purpose and is beautiful at the same time.»
Since 1952, the Swiss Werkbund, represented by a competent jury, has awarded the ‚Die gute Form‘ award as a protected label at the ‚muba‘ every year.
Max Bill‘s book ‚Die gute Form‘, published in 1952, was also formative for the term.
Heinrich Pfalzberger
In 1947, Heinrich Pfalzberger founded a furniture construction company in a small workshop in Riehen. Originally trained as a car mechanic, he designed and manufactured loungers and gardening equipment for his former employer, the Kost Sporting Goods Store.
His early designs were characterized by their ability to be dismantled and, thereby, their resulting small pack size, which was due to the limited space available in his initial workshop and the fact that he delivered them himself by bicycle.
At the Mustermesse Basel, his designs were, on multiple occasions, awarded the ‚Die gute Form‘ recognition prize:
1953 Garden barbecue
1954 Garden lounger on arch
1954 Garden table
1957 Floor lamp
1958 Serving trolley ‚Flamboy‘
1962 Leather armchair HP2
The gallery shows a small selection of his extensive oeuvre.
The HP2 armchair, an interpretation of the 19th century English colonial chair, was part of the Swiss contribution to the 1968 Triennale di Milano and received an award. The design also appears to many as an homage to Charlotte Perriand and Le Corbusier‘s ‚chaise basculante‘, but is clearer in expression and can be dismantled into small parts as a plugged and bolted construction.
The HP2 became well known as furniture in the Baden cantonal school designed by architects Bruno and Fitz Haller. It was even shipped as far as Ontario (Canada) and sold in the Klaus Nienkamper furniture store.
The small company also managed large orders such as the furnishing of the Basel City Theater in 1974. In the exhibition, one can see an example of the seating in the hall of the ‚small stage‘ with its original beige leather upholstery.
The HP25 armchair from 1993, the optimized successor of the HP2, was created in collaboration with Pfalzberger’s son, Jürg. It consists of more delicate steel profiles and was produced entirely without welded details.
Three iconic pieces of furniture, the IG, FL (1999) and R08 (2008) loungers are a familiar sight in Swiss homes, gardens, parks and swimming pools.
It is the designers‘ understanding of craftsmanship, knowledge of the material and keen instinct that has resulted in the clarity of the details and the coherence of the shapes.
Today, the company is run by the third generation: Jürg Pfalzberger and his sons, Ron and Tom.
LOUNGER IG 1999
From the current production.
Inox, stainless steel brushed, ø20mm
Batiline Iso, polyester fabric (100% recyclable)
5-way adjustable, foldable, stackable
1’090 chf
LOUNGER FL 1999
From the current production.
Inox, stainless steel brushed, ø20mm
5-way adjustable, foldable, stackable
1’090 chf
LOUNGER R08 2008
From the current production.
Inox, stainless steel, brushed, 20/25 mm
Batiline Iso, polyester fabric (100% recyclable)
Infinitely adjustable while lying down up to the flat position, can be locked in the flat position
1’950 chf with wheels
1’750 chf without wheels
STOOL 1999
From the current production.
Inox, stainless steel brushed, ø20mm
EASY CHAIR HP 25 1993
From the current production.
Steel, chrome-plated
1’150 chf
SERVING TROLLEY 'FLAMBOY' 1958
Honoured with the 'Die gute Form' prize. From the current production.
Steel, chrome-plated, 20 mm
FLOOR LAMP 1957
Honoured with the 'Die gute Form' prize.
EASY CHAIR HP 2 1962
Honoured with the 'Die gute Form' prize.
