Orria Chair

Going above and beyond the manufacture of furniture, Alki is a committed cultural and economic stakeholder that strives to give purpose to its actions both today and over the long term. Manufacturing the Orria chair, a symbolic object associated with the historic Oval Reading Room at the Bibliothèque nationale de France makes perfect sense for Alki.

By combining both craft and industrial techniques, our workshop placed its unique expertise in working with solid wood and leather at the service of the Bibliothèque nationale de France and Mobilier national, the French government agency responsible for conserving and curating both historical and contemporary collections, through designer Patrick Jouin and the Atelier de Recherche et de Création, which falls within the scope of the Mobilier national.

The rich dialogue between the various participants and their breadth and depth of focus over the course of this project, were instrumental in making the Orria reading chair a unique object and highlighted the concerted expertise, creativity and excellence of each stakerholder. The emotional resonance it imparts and the pleasure it procures for the reader will make the Orria reading chair an emblematic object for the Oval Room at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, evocative of France’s heritage.

Orria is inspired by the space that accommodates it. The architecture of the Oval Room and the thousands of volumes that line its walls speak of study, of the pages that are turned, of the rare and ancient books that are consulted. We wanted this chair to be equal to the grandeur of the room, while remaining discreet in its features and genuine in its choice of materials.As designers, our role is to provide objects that are of service not only to their users, but also to all those who interact with them. Orria is an example of this desire to situate an object in its daily life, in its usage. Every day it will welcome hundreds of readers, but our proposal had to take into account all its uses, considering not only those who use it as a seat, but also those who have to lift it every morning and evening to cleanthe room.

With its pure lines, the Orria chair is both unique and demanding in its design. The Alki craftspeople invested these same requirements in the manufacture of the item based on rigorous technical commitments. Orria has a 100% wooden structure and joinery. The backrest is in bentwood. The chair’s flowing and seamless lines have no sharp angles. These characteristics are not commonplace, thus making the Orria chair a unique and noble object. Its technical complexity lies in the discretion and sheerness of its lines.

After furnishing the Oval Reading Room at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the Orria chair is, today, available in a public-at-large version. Orria is distinct for its pure lines and unique, exacting design.