Variable Balans, Original Kneeling Chair, Designed By Peter Opsvik, Black/Black

Product Information

I'm a Variable Balans believer after my experience with this chair. Ergonomic, beautifully crafted and built to accommodate your sitting preferences, the kneeling chair is paradoxically both one-size-fits-all and custom made. The instantly recognizable Variable balans is THE original kneeling chair. Building from his seminal research and thinking on ergonomic seating and kneeling chairs, in 1991, Opsvik introduced Thatsit, which is an evolution of the iconic Variable balans.

The Varier Balans chair comes with a 7 year warranty for the wood frame. The foam used to fill up the seating and knee pads have 5 years of warranty. Hallingdal 65: is made of wool and viscose, which complement each other well: the wool provides excellent durability and flexibility, whilst the viscose adds brilliance and depth to the colour. Both chairs are beautiful to look at and are descendants of an original “balans” prototype from designer Hans Christian Mengshoel. Scandinavian designers, fortified with a new understanding of ergonomics and how the body reacts to sitting in a chair for long periods, attempted to design their way to a solution. Balans chairs encouraged the body “ to support itself.” The Variable Balans was designed in 1979 by famed Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik. Freedom of movement is the main idea behind the kneeling chair, and it’s even written in the name “variable balans,” or variable balance. Kneelers are meant to adjust their positioning until optimal balance and comfort is achieved—and then to shift once that position gets stiff.Melange Nap: Extremely soft yet durable, Melange Nap appears to be brushed. It is constructed with a unicoloured and a melange yarn, which creates a graphic pattern of tiny dots that play across its surface. Variable is made from top quality beech ply wood from European forests. The ply wood is treated through an iterative molding process where several veneer layers are combined and glued. Through the application of combined heat and pressure, the layers are given their characteristic shape, making our Variable stand out from the crowd. All wooden parts are flexible and strong, ensuring a sitting experience that is never static. For a beautiful finish, our ply wood is covered with ash top veneer, manually sanded and coated with water-based, non-toxic lacquers. Hans Christian Mengshoel was the first designer to come up with the concept of active sitting, he shared his vision with 3 more designers (among which Peter Opsvik) and the “Balans” chair was born. The name of the chair suits it well, since that was their primary mission, to feel balanced while sitting. When one designs from form first, you often end up with pieces that have visual interest but do not serve a practical purpose, and are often outright uncomfortable," Opsvik explains to Pure Contemporary. "My chairs are functional and meant for situations where we sit over long periods of time."

On the other hand, one issue everyone warns you about. Get some soft tape and place it on the bottom of the runners if you wish to protect your wooden floor. FAQ’s About The Chair Their headquarters can be found in Oslo, Norway, and they have made 20 different designs throughout the years. They are currently selling to more than 40 countries across the world. Ergonomics Of The Chair

Kneeling... With A Twist

Weight limits: The weight limit is 225 lbs on the Fully Balans and 240 lbs for the Variable Balans. Yes, but it is a very simple process, and it should take you around 15 minutes from start to finish. You’ll have 6 parts to work with, and all the screws and tools needed are inside the box. Dinamica - The most popular choice in our stores. Hard wearing, hypo-allergenic, smooth, eco friendly, easy to clean and luxurious. Ideal for everyday & summer use; read more about this amazing fabric HERE

While other brands of kneeling chairs have adjustable settings, like Office Star, DRAGONN and VIVO, the Variable Balans is non-adjustable, potentially making it not a great fit for those with extra-long legs or a heavier build. In addition to correcting posture and pressure, the kneeling chair's forward shift creates a pelvic opening that promotes better breathing and a smoother digestive system. This means oxygen and nutrients have an easier time making their rounds to deliver enhanced energy, alertness and concentration. Divina Melange 3: is a vibrant piece-dyed woollen upholstery textile reminiscent of felt. Cheerfully simple, it comes in a fresh, versatile palette. Compact, comfortable and extremely smooth! Every posture feels wrong after extended periods of time, including the kneeling posture,” says Norwegian designer Peter Opsvik, inventor of the kneeling chair, in an interview with Pure Contemporary. “For all my different chairs with the brand ‘balans,’ it was important to consider kneeling as just one of several postures that can be assumed in a chair.”Scandinavian design, famous for its minimalism (think Ikea), strips away the bells and whistles from an object to reveal its simplest form. The first designers of this style were coined "functionalists," but Opsvik argued that minimalism was a far cry from functionality. To have a successful assembly and usage you might want to follow these tips: First tighten the screws barely so the parts can hold together, and then tighten them all the way. In 1979, renowned Norweigan industrial designer Peter Opsvik created the furniture design that is now recognized as one of the 50 furniture designs that changed the world: the Variable balans kneeling chair.