1958 Robin Day HWH Lounge Chair (High Wide and Handsome) by Hille

HWH lounge chair (High Wide and Handsome) by Robin Day for Hille

The High Wide and Handsome chair is one of a handful of fully upholstered seating designs by Robin Day.

The HWH is a generous lounge chair with a grand scale and its form dedicated toward comfort. The shape shows the influence of other organic-modern seating designs such as Saarinen’s Womb chair, but HWH has its own distinct character with its fine steel sled base formed to enhance the dynamic stance of the chair.  The twin apertures in the back enhance the lightness ro the design.

The HWH was a highly progressive design by British and European aesthetics and construction, using moulded plywood to create a slim profile with high comfort levels provided through lumbar support, high backrest and generous arms. The concept of a more relaxed type of sitting posture was clearly encouraged.

It was a design that found favour in the Day household and historical images show the chair in use at their London home

Robin Day is Britain’s most renowned furniture designer. Having won the Museum of Modern Art’s Low-Cost Furniture Competition in 1948, he went on to design an exceptional and respected cross-section of furniture in a career spanning more than 60 years.

An acute understanding of materials and manufacturing processes, aligned with progressive design skills allowed for landmarks in the history of furniture design. His polypropylene seating is acknowledged as the world’s best-selling chair.

Robin Day’s achievements are not restricted to furniture and his industrial designs, exhibitions, graphics and interiors are highly respected for individual flair and modernist sensibilities.

Alongside his wife, textile designer Lucienne Day, the couple is revered and acknowledged for introducing contemporary design to Britain.