Fauteuil Kangourou

Jean Prouvé, 1948

It goes without saying that a lounge chair must be comfortable. Above and beyond comfort, the sculptural wooden side members of the Fauteuil Kangourou are among the most expressive elements in Jean Prouvé's oeuvre – and yet are more than a formal exercise. Prouvé always adhered to the motto 'form follows function': the solid wooden structure supports the chair at the point where the greatest stress is exerted by the sitter. The front legs, on the other hand, are made of relatively thin steel tubes, as they do not have to bear the primary load. The same principle can also be seen in his better-known Standard chair.

The fact that Jean Prouvé named the armchair 'Kangourou' reveals his sense of humour. With a little imagination, the chair's silhouetted profile can be understood to resemble a sitting kangaroo.
Vitra has reissued the Fauteuil Kangourou in collaboration with Catherine Prouvé, the daughter of Jean Prouvé. The lounge chair pairs a natural oak base structure with metal legs in the striking hue Prouvé Bleu Marcoule; the cushions are covered in a colour-coordinated, softly woven bouclé fabric.

Fauteuil Kangourou is limited to 150 pieces and is only available directly from Vitra.

Information

Karandash (Dedar)
Wooden base and armrests, solid wood
Metal frame
Products of the family
This product was designed by

Jean Prouvé

Jean Prouvé, who regarded himself as an engineer throughout his lifetime, was both the designer and manufacturer of his product ideas. His unique oeuvre, ranging from a letter opener to door and window fittings, from lighting and furniture to prefabricated houses and modular building systems, encompasses almost anything that is suited to industrial production and construction.