5 stories and curiosities behind the world's best-selling chair

The Monobloc chair is more popular than one might imagine. Besides being part of the Brazilian cultural imagination, as the piece is present in the country's daily life, the model is the best-selling in the world. Discover 5 stories and curiosities that surround the chair that has become a global phenomenon:

1. The best-selling chair in history

Despite having a simple design, with at most some color variations, the Monobloc has produced more than one billion units. It is everywhere, as well as in different historical periods and cultural contexts, but no one designed it to be iconic. For every eight people on Earth, there is at least one Monobloc!

2. What makes it special?

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The popularity of Monobloc is mainly due to the efficiency of the object and low market price, with manufacturing of the product in less than two minutes. The lack of detailed features adds to the low value of the chair, considering it is a unique plastic piece, without seams, screws, joints, or extra materials. It has a low production cost while being durable enough to withstand the elements of the weather and light enough to be carried with one hand.

3. Who designed it?

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The Monobloc was not created by a single designer. Its conception emerged in the 1960s, a period when several European designers explored the possibilities of injection molding to produce solid plastic chairs.

4. Similar models

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In 1972, French designer Henry Massonnet designed the Fauteuil 300, one of the pioneers among chairs made entirely from injection molded plastic. Over the years, manufacturers from various countries perfected and reproduced similar models on a large scale, transforming the Monobloc into a global icon, lacking a defined authorship.

5. Between criticisms and compliments

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Despite being everywhere on the planet, the Monobloc is also one of the most criticized chairs. It is labeled by many as disposable and ugly, and it exacerbates problems projects due to its completely plastic composition — millions end up in landfills, decomposing slowly. However, its presence remains functional and recurring, regardless of its aesthetic beauty.