Design in the 1960s and 1970s had many facets, from brutalism to psychedelic pop. In this melting pot of aesthetics, one design stood out: the F300 armchair, designed by Pierre Paulin in 1967. It was a piece of furniture that was not only ahead of its time but, like many of Paulin's designs, still looks like it belongs in the future.
Today, the F300 returns thanks to Gubi , a unique brand in our portfolio, which has brought it back to life with incredible sensitivity and respect for the original. It's not only a tribute to one of the most influential French designers of the 20th century, but also a reminder that comfort and style can go hand in hand—without compromise.
Pierre Paulin – a designer who thought like a sculptor
Before Pierre Paulin (1927–2009) began designing furniture, he studied sculpture. Although his career took a different turn, it was this sculptural approach to form that remained his hallmark. For Paulin, design wasn't about combining elements, but about creating a unified form that expresses emotion, not just serves a function.
His designs—from the Tongue armchair to the Ribbon Chair to the F300—were revolutionary. They not only looked different, but also had a different effect on the body : they enveloped, allowed for easy positioning, and invited relaxation.
F300 – total form
The F300 armchair embodies this philosophy. Its organic, almost fluid form appears to have been carved from a single block. There is no classic division into seat, backrest, and arms. It is a single, cohesive form that functions as both a sculpture and an ergonomic piece of furniture.
The F300 was designed to adapt to the user, not the other way around. You can sit in it traditionally, you can squat sideways, or you can almost lie down in it. Paulin didn't design the position—he designed the experience of sitting.
Technology and Material: HiREK® and Responsibility
Originally manufactured from injected polyurethane, the F300 is now made from the innovative HiREK® material – a polymer derived from recycled plastics. HiREK® is durable, UV-resistant, and can be dyed through, eliminating the need for additional paint coats. This makes production more sustainable and the chair 100% recyclable.
This isn't just an aesthetic decision, but also a conscious ecological one . By re-editioning the F300, Guci hasn't just restored its form—it's adapted it to the realities of the 21st century.
Return of the Icon
The F300 gained recognition in the 1970s, and today – thanks to a reissue – it's reaching a new generation of users. It's in museum collections, including the MoMA in New York , and its presence in contemporary interiors is proof that truly modern designs don't age – they simply wait for their moment.
The contemporary version of the armchair is available in carefully selected colors: subtle Alabaster White and muted, futuristic Pastel Green . It is accompanied by the T877 low table, also cast in HiREK® and designed specifically for this line, formally complementing the armchair.
An armchair like a sculpture, comfort like a declaration
What sets the F300 apart is its paradoxical combination of sculptural presence and ease of use . While its form appears solid, almost monumental, the chair itself is lightweight and easy to move. It adds more than just function to a space— it creates atmosphere . Whether it's placed in a gallery, a hotel lobby, a modern office, or a minimalist living room.
Thanks to its universal yet original form , the F300 fits perfectly into both classic and avant-garde spaces. It's an object that doesn't require context— it creates it itself.
The F300 Lounge Chair is an example of design that doesn't need to prove its worth—it simply has it. It's a piece of furniture that combines elements that rarely come together: bold form, functionality, sustainable production, and a profound cultural impact. Thanks to Gubi's reissue, we can now enjoy a chair that was a step ahead of its time—and continues to lead the way.
It's more than a classic. It's a manifesto. An armchair of the future, born from the past.
