The Coliseum Chair Brings Ancient Design to a Modern World

The Coliseum Chair by Alvaro Uribe blends contemporary design and ancient principles, playing on our sense of optics to create larger than life proportions, reminiscent of a grander, bygone era. Initially designed to explore the capabilities of rotational molding, which is typically utilized in more industrial applications, here we see this process elevated to the showroom. The cutouts of the chair add dimension and depth, strength and security exhibited proudly from every angle. Created for Italian design brand Slide, this chair balances ergonomic principles with measured elegance for a modern finish to any interior or exterior.

Rotational molding offers minimal material use as an advantage, the team at Alvaro Uribe initially imagining the form as a solid object. A rounded square base gives way to an expanding extrusion of a chair, strong columns of material creating arches through which the seat can be seen. These channels create strength within the shape, reducing weight and optimizing for production efficiency. The seat is carved definitively into the form in a way that feels encompassing in its solidity, yet the back is low enough to offer support yet not feel claustrophobic. A clever balance between strength and style, the Coliseum Chair is rated for outdoor use and available in a multitude of colors, adding a splash of vibrance to a garden, patio, deck, or interior space.

These shapes have ignited the mind for centuries, pulling on design traditions made to celebrate the gods (and shun the emperors). A trick of focal length, the top of the chair will seem larger than it actually is, similar to the columns we see circling the Colosseum in Rome. Finally completed in 80 AD by filling in Emperor Nero’s lake, and seating as much as 50,000 visitors, this UNESCO World Heritage Site was home to gladiatorial contests, public executions, and other entertainment popular at the time.

Alvaro Uribe is a New York-based designer focused on inspiring curiosity, magic, and delight. He sees design as a universal language – one that unites us and can be used to fulfill multiple needs. He calls this concept “emotional function.” a principle where the product extends beyond its original use to become a beloved object, one that continually brings joy. Intentionally much harder to balance, this works on multiple levels as humans to create objects with intentionality, durability, and care. When using something brings on a smile, the designer has done their job right.

To learn more about the Coliseum Chair, visit slidedesign.it or alvarouribedesign.com.

Photography courtesy of Alvaro Uribe and Slide.