Designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell in 2002,the Louis Ghost Chair was the first polycarbonate chair to hit the design scene.Since the use of transparency had already arrived some years prior and minimalism was no longer in,Starck had a bit more design freedom.He drew his inspiration from the past,and so emerged the baroque lines of the Louis XV. All of these components flowed together to form a petite version of Louis XV majestic chair.
Louis Ghost Chair Kartell 10 Year Anniversary Images courtesy of Kartell
Kartell designers were challenged with the Louis XV design,in fact the details of the medallion-shaped back and arms were quite the design hurdle.Evanescent and crystalline,stable and sturdy,totally shock proof,resistant and proof against atmospheric agents,this personality charged aesthetically appealing combo of irony and industrial production has changed many designers,manufacturers and consumers view of plastic chairs.
Kartell's press release,"Philippe Starck described his new project in these terms:"Actually,the Louis Ghost chair designed itself.It is a Louis something",a sort of ghost,a reflection,the shadow of a chair in a style that I have called Louis Ghost,the ghost of Louis .Starck continued. You are not sure exactly what it is but everyone recognizes it and sees it as something familiar.It's here when you want to see it and you can blend it in if you want to be discreet.It is half disappearing,dematerialising.Like all the production of our civilisation.
