Description
The Spirit House Chair was unveiled ahead of the 2007 opening of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Daniel Libeskind and Toronto furniture designer Klaus Nienkämper collaborated to design the limited edition, custom built piece of furniture inspired by the peaks and facades of Libeskind’s Crystal.
The contemporary, multi-faceted Spirit House Chair was one Libeskind’s first forays into the world of furniture. The chair is constructed entirely of 14 gauge stainless steel with a brushed finish, weighing in at 180 lbs. It is designed to be oriented in five different positions and can be used as a side-table. Each chair takes 40 hours of labor to complete. As a special finishing touch, each chair will have Libeskind’s signature etched onto it.
The chair is named for the space at the heart of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal called the Spirit House, where the structural support beams unite to form an open space that will be filled with a soundscape reflecting various aspects of the Museum. Thirteen Spirit House Chairs reside on Level 1 of the Spirit House, used by visitors as a place of contemplation and reflection, three are placed at the front entrance to the Lee-Chin Crystal and two are on display in the new ROM Museum Store.
The chair was manufactured by Nienkämper Furniture & Accessories Inc. of Toronto.