From beaches and verandas to T Magazine’s list of the 25 most influential pieces of furniture of the past century, this is the story of the white plastic chair.
Its origins remain uncertain, but its silhouette is instantly recognizable: inexpensive, durable, usually white. Sometimes it has armrests, sometimes only its curved backrest. It stacks, travels, disappears and reappears with ease. It belongs to everyone and no one at once. Often described as the most democratic piece of furniture ever made, it has become a quiet constant in everyday life, from seaside terraces and village squares to city sidewalks across Greece and far beyond.
A woman sits on a plastic chair on the balcony of her apartment in the Refugee Buildings on Alexandras Avenue. [Nikos Kokkalias]
A story rooted in design
The monobloc chair, named for its single-piece construction, emerged in the 1960s, when plastic was reshaping industrial design and environmental concerns were still distant. Its early lineage is often traced to Canadian designer DC Simpson, who produced a one-piece plastic chair in 1946, though not in the form we recognize today.
