Gonzalo Milà and Juan Carlos Inés

GONZALO MILÀ (Barcelona 1967) and JUAN CARLOS INÉS
Balensiya chair, 1991.
In wood.
It shows minimal natural wear due to rocking.
In good condition.
Measurements: 60x44x57 cm.

The "Balensiya Chair", conceived in 1991 by the design duo Gonzalo Milà and Juan Carlos Inés, stands as a remarkable example of the search for innovative ergonomics and playful interaction in contemporary furniture. The piece challenges the static notion of conventional seating, proposing a dynamic experience that invites swaying and a less rigid posture. Its design, which is inspired by the movement on the back of a horse, allows for an organic relationship between the user and the object, facilitating active comfort.

The support surface that contacts the floor has, as is to be expected in a design that encourages movement, minimal wear derived precisely from this intrinsic "rocking action". Far from being a defect, this slight mark attests to the authenticity and use in accordance with the original conception of its creators.

Heir to an illustrious lineage of designers - he is the son of the renowned Miguel Milá - Gonzalo Milà began his career in the field of architecture and then moved into industrial design, training at the prestigious Elisava School in Barcelona. His professional career has been characterized by a constant search for the essence and utility of objects. After collaborating in various studios, including his father's, he founded the "Inés & Milà" studio in 1994 with Juan Carlos Inés, where they gave life to emblematic pieces such as the Balensiya Chair and the Tutombas Pranha armchair. Later, Milà would co-found "Milà Diseño" with his father and his sister, Micaela Milà. Since 2001, he has run his own studio, specializing in street furniture, lighting (with creations such as the Rama street lamp, awarded the Delta de Plata in 2001) and accessories, with a rigorously essentialist approach that prioritizes functionality and human closeness in his proposals.

Juan Carlos Inés' collaboration with Gonzalo Milà was fundamental in the 1990s. Together they established the "Inés & Milà" studio in 1994, a period of prolific creativity that gave rise to innovative and recognized designs in the Spanish furniture and industrial design scene. Inés' imprint on the "Balensiya" and other joint works reflects a shared vision of playful functionality and experimentation with form and user interaction. Her contribution to this design icon underscores her significant role in the contemporary design scene in Spain.