Gilles Bouchez for Airbone

GILLES BOUCHEZ (France, 1940) for Airbone.
Pair of “Kit” armchairs.
Metal and white upholstery.
Original frame and upholstery in very good condition. Some straps have been repaired previously.
Measurements: 70 x 75 x 90 cm; 38 cm (seat height).
Pair of “Kit” armchairs, designed by Gilles Bouchez for the French firm Airborne, part of the renowned collection presented at the Eurodomus 4 fair in Turin in 1972—one of the most significant international events for experimental design of the time.The “Kit” series fully embodies the innovative spirit of 1970s design, based on the search for modular solutions, lightweight structures, and a new conception of furniture as an adaptable system. The collection included armchairs, sofas, chaise longues, and work tables constructed from a chrome-plated steel frame combined with tensioned elements and interchangeable components, anticipating concepts of flexibility and customization that would shape the evolution of contemporary design.
These armchairs stand out for the purity of their construction, where the metal frame is fully integrated into the piece’s aesthetic, while the tensioned straps serve as both a functional and visual element.
Gilles Bouchez is a French architect and designer active since the late 1960s, known primarily for his collaboration with the firm Airborne and for the creation of the innovative Série Kit, presented in 1972. Trained as a DPLG-certified architect in France and initially associated with the circle of Georges Candilis, he developed a body of work that combined architecture, industrial design, and modular furniture. His pieces are characterized by the use of visible metal structures, tensioned straps, and suspended cushions, reflecting the technological and experimental aesthetic of the 1970s. Although his furniture output was relatively limited and less well-known than that of other French designers of his generation, his creations for Airborne are highly prized by collectors today for their originality, high-quality craftsmanship, and unique blend of functionalism, brutalism, and futuristic design.