Lan

Lan: the office chair for people who don’t like office chairs…

Alki, in partnership with Iratzoki & Lizaso Studio, launches its office chair designed for people who don’t like office chairs.

Two years ago, Iratzoki & Lizaso Design Studio and Alki, the Basque furniture manufacturer, set themselves a challenge: create an office chair that complies with the ergonomic codes of this category of furniture while also adhering to the Alki universe, characterized by warmth and emotional attachment.

It all started with a simple observation. “We noticed that more and more people around us had less and less esteem for office chairs. The aesthetic codes for these chairs more closely resemble an orthopaedic tool than a cherished work companion. Moreover, most of the adjustment devices are only used very rarely. If, on top of that, one considers that in a good many cases, office chairs frequently change users, it seemed an interesting idea to get rid of its superfluous functions.”
Jean Louis Iratzoki, co-founder of Iratzoki & Lizaso studio

The functional characteristics of the Lan chair are inconspicuous: the mechanism disappears under the seat and the armrests form an integral part of the backrest. Meticulous work has been carried out on the shape, the contact zones and the choice of materials in order to create a congenial and comfortable object. Wood, Alki’s favourite material, is used in both inside and outside the seat.

“In contrast to the classic office chair with its aggregate architecture, Lan is a compact and welcoming chair with integrated elements. So, we have shifted from a sort of machine to an appealing object.”
Ander Lizaso, co-founder of Iratzoki & Lizaso studio

The functionality of the Lan chair enables it to adapt to all morphologies, and the synchronous mechanism integrated in the seat is self-adjusting. It tailors the tension of the backrest according to the weight of the user. The backrest can be locked in three different tilt positions and its shape has been designed to allow the user maximum freedom of twisting movement.

The Lan Collection satisfies all office chair functions: three backrest heights for the rotating models and a low-back visitor’s chair with four wooden legs.

“Alki took root in the warm and cosy realm of the home. It was rapidly able to penetrate into the sphere of hotels, restaurants and other communal areas. Today, Alki brings its conviviality to the office.”

Peio Uhalde, CEO of Alki Cooperative