A hug requires that we lean on one another, oxytocin delivered directly to the brain. The power of this simple gesture is sometimes understated—elegant in its simplicity, tender in its sweetness. The Mysa Chair by Studio Kohlhass plays upon this fundamental tenet of human physiology, using color, structure, and craft to echo an experience universally understood, and doing so with quiet confidence.
The Mysa Chair takes its name from the Scandinavian word for coziness and comfort, a linguistic cue that mirrors the chair’s physical intent. Its wooden shell is firm and sculptural, yet inherently protective – less a hard boundary than a soft shield. Slender metal wire legs form a delicate sled base, visually light but structurally assured, allowing the body above to appear as if it gently floats. This contrast between solidity and lightness gives the chair an almost buoyant presence, one that feels supportive without feeling imposing.
A lightly upholstered seat creates a tender exchange with the adjoining backrest, the two surfaces meeting like a conversation between body and spine. At the center of this dialogue is the chair’s defining gesture: a bent plywood backpiece that wraps around the sitter, cradling the upholstery and extending outward like two friendly arms, one for each of yours. The form is deliberate and enveloping, encouraging the body to recline, relax, and feel held – an echo of the embrace that inspired it.
Materiality works in concert here. The strength and beauty of molded wood—an intentional exploration of traditional craft and manufacturing—interacts seamlessly with the softness of the upholstery, where subtle texture adds both tactile and visual warmth. The powder-coated sled base introduces a matte tactility and saturated color, its single connection point to the backrest emphasizing the shell’s shield-like curve while allowing a moment of air and light between structure and form. It’s a restrained detail, but one that sets the entire composition in motion, recalling the quiet ingenuity of mid-century design while remaining distinctly contemporary.
A relatively wide stance offers an open, honest invitation: two arms beckoning to sit down, to rest awhile. Yet the color palettes suggest movement and energy, from bright, playful upholstery paired with monochrome-painted sleds to an inky black Nappa leather shell set against chrome legs.
“I wanted to show the variability of the design. That it can exist in multiple contexts while keeping its core character,” the designer says. “It should stand out, reflect the personality of its owner, and bring joy to the space. When using it, you can lean back and feel enveloped. Like sinking into a modern classic.”
Each configuration shifts the chair’s tone – from expressive and joyful to timeless and architectural – without compromising its essential character. As the designer notes, the intention was always variability: a chair that could adapt to multiple use cases while retaining a strong, recognizable identity.
Indeed, this distinctly modern chair grounds us in its humanness.
To learn more about the Mysa Chair by Studio Kohlhass, visit studio-kohlhaas.de.
Photography courtesy of Studio Kohlhass.
