Copenhagen-based designer Thomas Bentzen has designed a wooden lounge chair for Danish brand Muuto, informed by a traditionally simple Scandinavian aesthetic.
With a clean and minimal aesthetic, the Cover Lounge Chair joins the brand's Cover Chair series designed by Bentzen – a long-serving Muuto collaborator.
While a lounging chair is typically entirely upholstered in fabric for a softer, more cushiony finish, the Cover Lounge Chair retains a stripped down wooden body, like the original all-wood Cover Chair.
Boasting a strong beech wood frame, the chair features a wide, rounded backrest in form-pressed veneer that curves downwards to form the armrests, in a bid to offer more comfort and an "inviting expression".
"The idea of a lounge chair in all wood is an archetypal element in the Danish as well as Scandinavian design tradition," Bentzen told Dezeen.
"It arises from the belief that you can achieve a great amount of comfort from a simple wooden chair and a light, open sentiment within the design; something that is firmly rooted in the Scandinavian design history from the 1950s onwards."
Bentzen set out to create "a comfortable lounging design in wood that was at once modern and timeless whilst deeply rooted in the traditions of Scandinavian craftsmanship".
Despite sharing this aesthetic with the regular Cover Chair, the lounge chair has a more relaxed appeal, with a more solid base and a taller back to allow for added comfort and a "grander" visual appearance.
"We spent a lot of time balancing the opposites of being at once solid and comfortable while also being open and airy in its expression," Bentzen told Dezeen.
According to the designer, the upholstered seat brings an "understated comfort" to the seat while giving its user freedom of movement across various seating positions.
Despite its wide-set backrest, the lounge chair has been designed to take up little space in a room. It is intended for use in spaces that serve the purpose of socialising, such as private homes, workspaces, lobbies or co-working areas.
Available in black, light grey or a natural oak colour, consumers also have the option of choosing an upholstered seat in either textile or leather.
Known for channelling authentic Danish design, Bentzen previously created a fluted steel sideboard for Muuto, which combines a traditional Scandinavian aesthetic with industrial references. Cooler steel elements are warmed up with solid oak components.