Shell
Equilibri, led by Daniele, Mirco, and Michela Groberrio, commissioned Viewport to reinterpret their existing outdoor Shell chair. Originally conceived as a rocking chair, the Shell has evolved into an occasional chair designed for both indoor and outdoor settings, extending its lifespan and versatility.
Our chair was intended to be very different from traditional rocking chairs – compact, colourful and made of steel rod. It is made from two thicknesses of steel rod– a thin steel 4mm rod to make the seat shell, and the framework and legs from an 18mm rod. It sits perfectly in an urban garden on the timber decking in a variety of colourful epoxy paint finishes.
More recently, together with Materica and Equilibri, Viewport (Gautier Pelegrin) paired ceramics with metal to extend the Shell chair into a more functional and expressive piece.
This project explores how distinct materials can intertwine to give life to a new typology of furniture.
Equilibri recently opened their atelier showroom, Spazio , where they showcased the work of Materica, founded by Alexandru Vlad Hristodor — a young ceramicist whose background in restoring historical artefacts in museums brings a unique sensitivity to material and form.
The collaboration draws inspiration from Verona’s remarkable network of skilled artisans and small manufacturers, whose expertise spans from marble and locally sourced wood to finely crafted ceramics.
This dialogue between strength and fragility, precision and craft, highlights how contrasting materials can enrich one another when carefully considered. What begins as an unexpected pairing evolves into a cohesive design language that is both practical and expressive.
The piece is a reminder of our ongoing curiosity about materials and the ways in which design can bring them together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
More variations of the Shell Chair
