Superkink is Berlin studio Osko+Deichmann‘s unconventional take on the archetypical tubular steel chair as it was conceived by Marcel Breuer and/or Mart Stam. Unlike its predecessors Superkink has a folded, or kinked, rather than a bent tubular steel frame, giving the chair an almost origami-like, fragile appearance.
In fact the studio developed the folding technique for a piece directly derived from the Breuer/Stam cantilever chair for the occasion of Bauhaus 90th anniversary in 2009. This piece however proved to be a source of controversy because it went against conventional wisdom about the properties of tubular steel and thus indirectly the modernist aesthetic of the Bauhaus tradition. O+D put the idea on hold until teaming up with Swedish manufacturer Blå Station for another project. Known for taking on novel projects Blå Station was willing to collaborate with O+D to manufacture a chair using the folding/kinking technique, the first products were the Strawchairs (O35, O36 and O37) followed by the Superkink S26armchairand and Superkink S27sofaand the latest addition the Straw L35 table.
Blasius Osko and Oliver Deichmann originally set up an interdisciplinary studio in late 90’s Berlin focusing on experimental and conceptual works before creating Osko+Deichmann in mid 00’s. Their designs are often characterized by unconventional solutions or unexpected details while retaining a high degree of clarity and simplicity. See for instance Plot for Brunner, Clip Chair for Moooi, and Tweet for Ligne Roset.
