Unlike other shell chairs, Press, by LAYER for MDF Italia is pressed into shape using 3D wood veneer, an innovative material that supports its complex form.

After two years of meticulous development, Benjamin Hubert, founder of experience design agency LAYER, and Italian furniture company MDF Italia have revealed their reinterpretation of the classic shell chair, aptly named Press. The name is derived from the unique production process, which utilizes a two-part aluminum mold to press the chair into shape without cracking the shell. The result is a sinuous design defined by a continuous curve. What makes Press truly innovative is its use of 3D wood veneer, a cutting-edge material that makes it possible to create complex forms.

Hubert?s vision for Press was to reimagine this iconic chair typology while ensuring it would endure aesthetically and functionally. ?When working with any material at LAYER we like to push its potential ? and an innovative material such as 3D-Veneer creates so many opportunities to experiment,? he explains. ?While it was essential that the form of the chair express the material qualities of 3D-Veneer, it was just as important that it have a timeless quality to ensure longevity.?
While Press is available with the option of an upholstered seat pad or even a fully upholstered version, its standard design features a seat form that mimics the comfort of pillowed seating. This design provides enhanced support, and the waterfall edge of the chai...