CH22 Lounge Chair

The CH22 Lounge Chair from Carl Hansen & Søn takes a strictly structural, low-slung approach to residential seating. Designed by Danish architect Hans J. Wegner in 1950, it entirely bypasses the heavy, upholstered blocks of traditional recliners in favor of a skeletal, meticulously jointed timber frame. Built entirely from solid wood—typically specified in oiled oak, warm walnut, or a stark contrast of both—the base physically lifts the user while keeping the surrounding floor plan visually open. Measuring roughly 69 centimeters wide, 68 centimeters deep, and 73 centimeters tall, it maintains an exceptionally condensed physical footprint that allows it to anchor a tight living room corner without obstructing sightlines or trapping ambient light. Its defining practical feature is its exposed mechanical joinery and severe ergonomic pitch. Rather than concealing how the chair is assembled, the sweeping, steam-bent backrest is mechanically locked into the frame using highly visible, contrasting timber wedges at the upper corners. This construction strategy explicitly exposes the structural logic of the piece to the room. By dropping the seat height to a stark 37 centimeters and pairing it with wide, flat, paddle-like armrests, the frame actively lowers the user’s center of gravity. This geometric arrangement pitches the body backward into a relaxed resting posture while providing immediate, localized ledges to support the arms and hands. Instead of relying on heavy, heat-trapping foam blocks, the seating plane is hand-woven from over 400 meters of heavy-duty paper cord. This tightly tensioned, envelope-patterned weave functions mechanically to provide absolute structural support while naturally flexing to accommodate physical weight. Because the material is inherently porous, it allows air to circulate directly through the seat, actively managing heat and friction during prolonged use. Stripped of unnecessary decorative hardware, bulky skirting, or fragile veneers, the CH22 is a quiet, hardworking fixture that relies entirely on uncompromising precision joinery, raw material honesty, and strict geometric tension to define a space.