Back to the Future with Cantilever Chairs

Back to the Future with Cantilever Chairs

by | Jul 7, 2022 | Seating | 0 comments

“Movement and exercise are essential fundamental requirements. Children especially need plenty of exercise for the harmonious development of body and mind. Constant rhythmic alternation between the static and the dynamic, between pressure and relief of pressure, between tension and relaxation can provide the conditions for balanced physical and mental wellbeing.”
–Dr. Dieter Breithecker, Federal Institute for the Development of Posture and Exercise, Germany

Traditional K-12 classrooms come equipped with all the same student desks and chairs. The common student chair since the 1980’s is a metal 4-legged chair with a rigid plastic back and seat that slightly slopes back putting the student in a passive inactive posture. This stacking chair is appropriately sized as a district standard at 12, 14, 16, and 18 inches from the floor to the seat, and most often purchased in dark navy blue. Many school furniture companies still make this chair in the 2020’s, but like any business they are going to continue to supply a product as long as there is a demand.

However, we at D&D Learning Spaces support new district standard seating options for students that move from static seating to dynamic seating. This transformation begins with a ‘modernist’ design from the 1920’s called the “cantilever chair.”

A Little History

The cantilever chair was first developed at the German Bauhaus Art School in the mid-1920’s by two architects, Marcel Breuer and Mart Stam.

A cantilever chair is a chair whose seating and framework are not supported by the typical arrangement of 4 legs, but instead is held erect and aloft by a single leg or legs that are attached to one end of a chair’s seat and bent in an L shape, thus also serving as the chair’s supporting base.
–Wikipedia

Marcel Breuer was the first to bend tubular steel in one continuous frame that created a subtle backward-flexing motion. In 1928, he created the cane ‘Cesca Chair’ named after his daughter Francesca and is considered a modernist classic in design and function to this day.

‘Forward-Flexing’ Cantilever Student Chairs

In this century, school furniture manufacturers started making ‘forward-flexing’ cantilever student chairs with a Z shape designed frame with a sturdy crossbar between the front legs. This new design, facilitates a student’s forward leaning motion compared to the backward rocking motion of Breuer’s original cantilever chair.

The VS PantoSwing-Lupo shown here is a fantastic alternative to the traditional 4-legged student chair as it’s stackable (5 high). The Panto shell is made of a double wall of polypropylene that creates an air-cushion effect for a comfortable sitting posture. It’s ergonomic back lumbar and forward leaning seat support, puts a student in an active learning posture, ready to think and create.

Additionally, it meets a district’s standard sizing requirements in that it begins at preschool level and moves up to adult with six different graduated sizes 12″, 13″, 15″, 17″, 18″, and 20,” a true comprehensive seating solution.

Check out this quick video to see its features, and to see the forward flexing quality of cantilever chairs in general.

In addition to the VS PantoSwing-Lupo,  D&D Learning Spaces™ provides two more forward-flexing cantilever chair options for school districts.

Sconnie Cantilever Chair Colors

The Wisconsin Bench (WB) Sconnie Cantilever shown above is a forward-flexing chair that was added just last year to their product line.  I like that it does not have the horizontal floor stabilizing bar as students have a little more open space with their feet on the floor. Currently, it comes in six standard colors with a smooth silver metal frame finish. The size options are 14, 16, and 18 inches. WB tells me that the ‘Sconnie’ shell will be expanding to other types of seating like task and cafe chairs, so look for the color options to grow as well.

Paragon Emoji Cantilever Chair - PurpleThe Paragon Emoji Cantilever is a forward-flexing chair with a right angular back legs design compared to the VS PantoSwing-Lupo. It comes in 3 sizes: 14, 16, and 18 inches and is a stylish K-12 stacking seating solution for K-12 schools. Paragon also has 16 color shell options and 5 metal frame color options to choose from.

 

The Cantilever Chair Full Circle

Let’s end this post at the beginning. I started with Marcel Breuer’s Cresa backward-flexing cantilever chair and I would like to now feature a 21st century version, the VS Jumper Air Meet. The Jumper Air Meet is also a backward-flexing cantilever chair designed primarily for older students and adults at 18″ inches high. This chair works great as a meeting or Wellness Center chair where gentle rocking by the participants is always a good thing.

Like all VS Jumper® products the seat shell is made from double-walled, structured polypropylene (Air) for comfortable seating with air cushion effect. Its available in L and XL sizes. This chair is also optionally available with an upholstered seat or all-round upholstery consisting of the plastic core with a taut fabric cover.

I’m such a fan of cantilever chairs that I have a set of four backward-flexing patio chairs in my backyard. So in any activity, let’s get back to the future with forward and backward flexing cantilever chairs!

Resources

  • Dr. Dieter Breithecker video – Importance of Dynamic Sitting

  • Dr. Dieter Breithecker video – Dangers of Sitting

 

D&D Learning Spaces Cantilever Chair Links

      This Chair Rocks! The VS Hokki Wobble Stool

      This Chair Rocks! The VS Hokki Wobble Stool

      by | Jun 2, 2022 | Seating | 0 comments

      For music, everything you need to know about Rock ‘n’ Roll is right there in the title. It’s a complete sensory experience. So complete that as a genre it has now transcended multiple generations since the 1950’s. In the world of school furniture, there is a category (or genre if you will) called, “Wobble Stools.” Everything you need to know about wobble stools is also in the title.

      Now if I had to pick a person who embodied Rock ‘n’ Roll it would be Chuck Berry. He was an original, the guy who literally created human movement through his electric guitar, the real deal. If there is ever a hall of fame for flexible furniture, the VS Hokki Stool would be a founding member, a complete original in design and function, and as VS says, “bodies and minds in motion.”

      There have been many imitators to the original VS Hokki stool but quality in design and durability are key elements to putting a piece of furniture in a K-12 school environment.

      Currently in the United States, there are classrooms  using student desks and chairs  that are twenty years old. With that in mind, you have to think that if a wobble stool is worthy of a school district purchase, it must stand the test of time.

      At D&D Learning Spaces, we feel the VS Hokki stool is the best wobble stool, period.

      In recent years, the wobble stool has gained status as a viable school chair for K-12 students with a growing number of educators and parents wanting this solution for their children in classrooms. It is no secret that many teachers are not waiting for their school district to provide their classrooms with flexible furniture. Instead, they are taking the initiative themselves. The ‘Flexible Furniture Movement’ has in large part been an organic process that is self-started and self-funded by teachers and parents.

      All of this is very close to me being a former teacher myself. I have two daughters who are currently K-12 classroom teachers. They are both slowly and steadily crafting their engaging flexible classroom environments, on their own.

      Now both of my daughters have been through what I’ll call, “the penny wise and pound foolish phase” of buying bean bag chairs, yoga balls, floor-gaming chairs, and some cheap ‘put together’ furniture. All of which have either gone flat or broken down within a year or two.

      My daughter Katie, who teaches third grade recently said to me, “I’m done with all the cheap online furniture that I paid for out of pocket.” And my other daughter, Shawna who teaches sixth grade has concluded that she’s “Now going to spend her classroom budget on one quality table or a couple of quality chairs a year.” Shawna by the way is still using the two VS Hokki Stools that D&D Learning Spaces donated to her several years back. Yes, dad hooked her up, but also never underestimate the resourcefulness of a teacher!

      Why do students and teachers love VS Hokki stools so much?

      • The first time students sit on a Hokki stool they instantly learn how to gently rock their hips, rolling the convex bottom side to side and front to back. It’s rock and roll baby!
      • Sitting on the Hokki is stimulating where movement is natural and unrestricted in a 360 degree rotation. It is made with a polypropylene shell, ergonomically curved seat, and slip-resistant base, all made with 100% recyclable materials.
      • The Hokki comes in fixed heights from 12” 15”, 18”, 20”, and 24.”
      • The Hokki+ Height Adjustable comes in two sizes- 15” to 19 3/4” or 19 3/4” to 26 3/4”. It  has pneumatic height adjustment with an anti-twist protector, resulting in overall stability and seating comfort. The adjustment mechanism is immediately accessible and can be triggered from any position with one hand.

      • The Hokki design creates a slim profile compared to other student chairs. It is easy to stack and can even hang from the end of a table.
      • The Hokki stool compliments mobile and modular  classrooms that do not have all the same desks and chairs. It provides students a seating option to actively move their bodies compared to passive seating chairs.
      • And most importantly, Hokki stools are not just for young children. Think of children, young people, and adults all using Hokki wobble stools at school, home and work. This chair simply rocks!

       

      Resources