philippe starck's 'lou read' chair for driade contains a throne-like quality

philippe starck’s ‘lou read’ chair for driade contains a throne-like quality (above) portrait © designboom

french designer philippe starck has created an armchair with an organic, anthropomorphic outline. the ‘lou read’ armchair is part of a collection for paris’s royal monceau hotel, recently refurbished by starck, where it is placed in every room. 15 years ago, starck met lou reed in this hotel.

‘lou read’ by philippe starck for driade image © designboom

‘lou reed is (– my friend –) a musician and a writer. this project is a reminder that it is far better to spend time in conversation or reading activities than in front of the TV or computer’ says philippe stark in an interview with designboom.

developed for italian furniture company driade, ‘lou read’ is conceived with leather directly fixed onto a fiberglass skeleton, with a high neck and short arms, giving the chair a throne-like quality.

the chair looks like a tribute to 50’s danish design image courtesy of driade

front view image courtesy of driade

image courtesy of driade