A major technical achievement
Aluminium Group chairs began as a challenge among some legendary designers. Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard were designing the Columbus, Indiana home of J. Irwin Miller, the founder of Cummins Engines. They wanted a high-quality seating product for outdoor use and asked Charles and Ray Eames to develop one. They accepted.
A challenge to the Eames team
Known for their honest use of materials, the Eameses constructed their chairs with cast aluminium and a seat frame that would support a stretched synthetic mesh. The seat-back suspension was a major technical achievement and represented a departure from the concept of the chair as a solid shell.
A step up to luxury
We began making the Aluminium Group chairs in 1958. In 1969, Charles and Ray Eames extended the original design by adding plush, individually upholstered cushions. They named these the Soft Pad chairs. Their simple lines, innovative use of materials and suspension comfort have kept them among the most popular seating choices for both offices and homes for more than 50 years.
