Paulistana Chair ---born by Pritzker 06' winner

A Brazilian version of a Bauhaus classic, Paulo Mendes da Rocha’s Paulistano Chair (1957) is a piece that holds its own with the iconic cantilevered armchairs from Alvar Aalto, Mart Stam, Mies van der Rohe and other European classics.

Paulo Mendes da Rocha of Brazil is the winner of the 2006 Pritzker Prize winner. The 77-year old architect is Brazil's second Pritzker laureate joining Oscar Niemeyer who was honored in 1988. Mendes da Rocha began his career in the 1950's and was part of what was then considered the avant-garde in São Paulo, known loosely as creators of the Paulist brutalist architecture. During a career that spans six decades, he has maintained his own practice, taught for many years at the University of São Paulo, and contributed to the professional community through his work as president of the Brazilian Institute for Architects.

Details that make a difference are the signature of this architect. The frame, a continuous 17-foot piece of solid stainless steel, is shaped under 200 lbs of hydraulic pressure over 24 hours. The result is a sinuous structure welded in a single spot and wrapped in almost an entire hide of leather that will gain depth and luster as it ages. Exceptionally comfortable, the Paulistano flexes slightly and can be adjusted for upright or relaxed sitting positions by shifting the leather sling up or down the frame. The Paulistano is hand-machine polished and may exhibit markings consistent with hand craftsmanship.