EC176 Office Seating Prototype

As Eames furniture designs evolved over time, certain changes often precipitated other ones. Adding molded foam padding and a seat cushion to the fiberglass armchair to produce the Loose Cushion Armchair necessitated significantly modifying the dimensions of the fiberglass shell that had been first introduced in the 1950s. While the general form of the new shell relates to the original, its height and depth were both expanded to accommodate the injected padding, which varied in depth between three-quarters of an inch to three full inches thanks to its ergonomic contouring. The new foam-in-place technology enabled the sewn cover to be created with great precision while also reducing the tension on the fabric—resulting in a more comfortable and longer-lasting chair. One of the many difficulties in production was arriving at a density of foam that would be both comfortable and supportive. However, one of the chief advantages of the Eameses’ prototype-heavy approach to design was that products could be tested by the designers themselves, as well as their staff. In this way, furniture could be assessed for comfort, stability, and other important qualities long before it reached consumers. This prototype comes from the Eames Office at 901 Washington Boulevard.