Chairs: Icons of Modern Design

February 13, 2024

Madrid Design Festival presents a journey through the most recognisable icons in the history of design with an exhibition of 80 pieces from the Alexander von Vegesack - Domaine de Boisbuchet Collection, accompanied by nearly a hundred catalogues and other original documents.


A collector and exhibition organiser, Alexander von Vegesack conceived and co-founded the Vitra Design Museum in Germany in 1989, an institution he directed for more than 20 years. At the same time, he founded Domaine de Boisbuchet in France, where internationally renowned designers and architects have been conducting practical workshops every year since then.

 "Chairs: Icons of Modern Design" is a tribute to human ingenuity and artistic expression, tracing the metamorphosis of chairs from their humble, handcrafted origins to the iconic designs that today reflect the cultural, social and technological changes of the day.

The exhibition, curated by Guillermo Gil Fernández and Pablo Sevilla and with the collaboration of Finsa, invites visitors to discover the artistic and cultural context in which each one of the pieces on display was conceived, where special attention is paid to issues such as functionality, the social context or the technological and technical advances that accompanied each one of the designs. In this way, the exhibition can be enjoyed by both the general public and specialists.



Pablo Sevilla has also been in charge of the exhibition's display and graphic design, which shows the work of some of the most relevant figures in the fields of design and architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as Michael Thonet, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Charles and Ray Eames, Gaetano Pesce, Verner Panton, Frank Gehry and Philippe Stark, among many others.




The exhibition also presents a wide-ranging selection of over eighty catalogues, books and other original publications that, besides providing new clues that help to understand the context in which the works on display were conceived, permit an exhaustive exploration of the profound influence that the work of all these creators has had on today's world.



Address Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa, Plaza de Colón 4 - Madrid, Spain

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine March 25, 2026
Luigi Rosselli Architects recently completed the renovation of a 1970s residence perched above a narrow coastal sound of glistening emerald waters, surrounded by steep sandstone cliffs and lush vegetation in Coogee, Sydney.
By G&G _ Magazine January 7, 2026
SAOTA introduced Lagoon Villa, an extraordinary architectural residence that seamlessly blends the vibrancy of Abidjan’s cityscape with the serene beauty of the Ébrié Lagoon. With interior design by Claude Missir, the villa epitomises modernist architecture while embracing the natural environment.
By G&G _ Magazine November 25, 2025
With an enviable location for those wishing to explore the city's art and culture, the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel is an ode to balanced and functional design, with its aesthetic curated by Spanish interior design studio El Equipo Creativo .
By G&G _ Magazine November 24, 2025
Visiting Casa Batlló means encountering the genius of Antoni Gaudí in his most imaginative and immersive form, where this modernist masterpiece combines creativity, craftsmanship, and multisensory storytelling.
By G&G _ Magazine November 11, 2025
LEI Interior Design has been recognized with the Best Luxury Apartment Interior Design award for Mina Azizi , Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE. This impressive honor from Luxury Lifestyle Awards reflects a thoughtful and design-led renovation that redefines what modern beachfront living can look and feel like.
By G&G _ Magazine October 28, 2025
Palmira an d GCA Architects unveil a room concept Praise to the Essential , celebrating the authenticity of materials and the elegance of simplicity. In a moment when travelers value emotional well-being and disconnection, the proposal reflects a new approach to Hotel Design, creating spaces that evoke tranquility, sensory experience and genuine comfort.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.