I am a huge foodie, and I have noticed this in both cuisine and design that the French love taking what you know, flipping it on its head, and giving you a crazier yet better version while you just sit there wondering “How do they do this every time?!”. The latest product to fall in this category is the ‘Chaise Renversée’ – a desk that can also transform into a long chair by the famous French architect Pierre-Louis Gerlier. The literal translation of Chaise Renversée is ‘chair overturned’, I love how simply the French put everything.
Since we are all cooped up in our homes, we are constantly finding ways to optimize space. Especially if you live in a city, you are likely to have everyday objects that are modular so that you have a functional space. Our current situation and the need to be flexible within a small space is exactly what inspired Gerlier to design the Chaise Renversée. It is the perfect blend of work from home and Netflix from home into one piece of modern furniture, it provides a stable table area to work and can then transform into the ‘Chaise Lounge’ when you want to relax.
“Chaise renversée is a desk for those who do not wish to have a desk,” says the architect, and I think that makes sense! If you only use your desk to reply to emails or pay the bills then it is inefficient to have a rigid, barely-used piece of furniture occupying space in your home. What we need is for our flexible lifestyle is what Gerlier gives us, a lounge chair that also works for work – if our 2020 mood could be translated into furniture, this is it. Sleeping on your desk has a whole new meaning.
Designer: Pierre-Louis Gerlier
