In portrait

The Portrait Chair by Simon James draws inspiration from the Brutalist architecture of the 1950s, reimagining it as a modern take on the club chair.

Distilled down to geometric block forms, the chair’s sincerity and simplicity are achieved through each element’s precise scale and angle; the arched back, squared arms, and fixed seat cushion come together to create an armchair that is both sculptural and comfortable.

The main body of the chair cantilevers over the base plinth, adding a visual lightness to the design. This chair is suitable for a wide range of spaces — from larger commercial areas and lobbies to waiting rooms and more intimate home settings. The Portrait Chair is available in full upholstery options, or with a contrasting timber base plinth.

The Portrait Chair is available from Simon James

Latest video features

In the Coromandel, a home with a humble profile and a thoughtful design makes the most of a stunning location.

Built with awe-inspiring attention to detail, this Arrowtown home is a fresh interpretation of a familiar Otago rural vernacular.

This sculptural Northland bach is a perfect north arrow on a remote farm high above the sea.

With the sun on its bow and the community at its stern, this is a house in which the elements are always front of mind.

Trending articles

Interiors

Tranquil restraint

This finely tuned pavilion on Kawau Island by Novak+Middleton balances strength and serenity in equal measure.

Design News

The Grey Lynn Firehouse

Grey Lynn has a new local — though local hardly does it justice. Opening this week, Grey Lynn Firehouse offers something special: an eatery in

Homes

Rangiputa Bach

A seemingly simple, two-bedroom box on stilts above a precipice in Rangiputa hides a microscopic level of detail and clear-headed architectural thinking.