Werner Panton at 100: A Chair in Use, A Year in Motion
Alessandro
In 2026, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Verner Panton arrives through objects already in use. Not as a pause, but as a continuation. His chairs are encountered where days unfold. At tables, near windows, in rooms where movement is constant and unplanned.
Through Vitra, Panton’s designs remain part of daily routines because they are easy to live with. A chair is pulled closer with one hand. It turns as you turn. It allows a sideways sit during conversation, a lean forward while reading, a brief perch between tasks. The form supports without instruction.
Some pieces become the default choice. Not because they stand out, but because they are reliable. The chair used for coffee before the house wakes. The one pulled out again for a longer meal. Moved closer during work. Pushed back at night. These repeated gestures define its place more than any formal setting.
The anniversary year brings exhibitions and renewed attention, but the most consistent tribute remains use. Chairs that are handled daily do not become precious. They remain present. They continue to adapt to how people sit, move, and gather.
One hundred years on, Panton’s work endures through function and ease. At Vitra, these designs stay relevant because they keep pace with everyday life. They do not interrupt it.
