Bascule Highback lounge chair

Bascule Highback is a lounge chair from Swiss manufacturer Vitra, designed by Berlin-based Studio Œ. The high back and height-adjustable neck cushion are combined with a concealed mechanism that follows the body’s movements from an upright seated position to a deeply reclined, almost horizontal position. Automatic weight adjustment ensures continuous movement without the need for controls.

Studio Œ drew inspiration from tailoring techniques used in fashion for the loose-fitting fabric cover, which wraps around the structure like a jacket while allowing for the chair’s extensive range of movement. The cover is removable and replaceable. The soft upholstery means that creases, pressure marks and contours from the cushions may appear as a natural part of the chair’s expression. Bascule Highback features a frame made of powder-coated tubular steel and a four-star swivel base in die-cast aluminium. The back cushion and armrests are filled with PET fibres made from post-industrial waste, while the seat and neck cushion are made from recyclable V-Foam. The series also includes Bascule Lowback, as well as the matching Ottoman and Bench, designed as comfortable footrests.