Constanze 3/4 Armchair

For Wittmann, Johannes Spalt was an integral part of the company as it broke new ground – and he is among the most striking figures in Austrian architecture. In 1952, together with Otto Leitner, Wilhelm Holzbauer and Friedrich Kurrent, he founded Arbeitsgruppe 4 (working group 4). The group came up with pioneering projects that provided key impetus for the decades that followed. 1960 saw the creation of Spalt’s “3/4 Möbel”, his first project with Wittmann. It comprised an armchair, a footstool and a side table. The name is derived from the nickname given to his Arbeitsgruppe 4. After the departure of Otto Leitner, they were affectionately known as “die 3/4-ler” (the three quarter-ers). In 1961, the Constanze bench appeared, which could be converted from a seat into a bed using a specially-developed mechanism. Today, the lines, function and style of the 3/4 furniture still appear every bit as modern and in touch with the zeitgeist. Reason enough for Wittmann to let them shine in the context of timeless design, bringing them into the here and now with a subtle update. With unmistakably precise handcrafted detail, an upholstered moulded wood shell sits on top of a shiny chrome aluminium base in the 3/4 Constanze armchair. An additional moulded wood shell gives the masterfully deep buttoned seating element extra stability. The positioning of the legs breaks up the compactness of the solid upholstered element – reflecting the lightness that Spalt wished to engender. The armrests give the piece its characteristic form. A footstool cut from the same cloth and a table complete the group. Spalt wanted to create “intelligent furniture that enables the cultivation of an interior culture”. Wittmann’s goal is to use the new edition of the 3/4 furniture to give this philosophy enduring impact.