BLACK ARMCHAIR BY RACHEL & BENOIT CONVERS
Designed by Rachel & Benoît Convers and manufactured in France, the BLACK ARMCHAIR BY RACHEL & BENOIT CONVERS is one of the most architecturally resolved pieces of outdoor seating currently in production — a wide, dramatically curved shell seat built from densely spaced parallel HPL slats that ripple across the surface like the body of a manta ray in motion, or the ribbed hull of something that arrived from a different discipline of design entirely and decided furniture was the more interesting challenge.
The BLACK ARMCHAIR BY RACHEL & BENOIT CONVERS is both the structure and the spectacle. Dozens of precisely cut High Pressure Laminate slats are stacked and spaced to create a seat-and-backrest that curves continuously — wide at the shoulders, cupped through the seat, rising in a single generous sweep that holds the body with the kind of considered support that low outdoor chairs almost never provide. The gaps between the slats allow air to circulate freely, water to drain instantly, and light to pass through the form in ways that make Manta as interesting in shadow as it is in direct sun. Four angled legs in the same brushed black HPL carry the shell with architectural confidence, cross-braced at the base for rigidity on any outdoor surface.
The High Pressure Laminate construction means BLACK ARMCHAIR BY RACHEL & BENOIT CONVERS is genuinely built for the outdoors — water resistant, heat resistant, and UV stable in a way that fabric-and-frame alternatives cannot claim without qualification. At 10kg, it is light enough to move between terrace configurations without effort, and durable enough to leave exactly where it is through every season.
In brushed black chair, the slatted surface reads graphically against pale stone, timber decking, or green garden backdrop — a piece of outdoor sculpture that happens to be supremely comfortable to sit in. Position it alone as a statement chair beside a low table, pair two facing each other across a fire pit, or anchor a terrace arrangement where the rest of the furniture earns its place by proximity.
Made in France. Built for outside. Designed like it belongs in a gallery.
Specifications
- Material: High Pressure Laminate (HPL)
- Height: 75 cm (29.5″)
- Width: 102 cm (40.2″)
- Depth: 90 cm (35.4″)
- Weight: 10 kg (22 lbs)
- Use: Outdoor / Indoor
- Water Resistant: Yes
- Heat Resistant: Yes
- Construction: Multi-slat parallel HPL shell on four-leg angled HPL frame with cross-bracing
Kayla Bennett –
From every single angle this chair is perfection — and trust me, I’ve photographed it from all of them! The sculptural shell shape in matte black is incredibly photogenic and even more impressive in person. It’s lightweight enough to reposition easily but feels solid and premium. It transforms any outdoor space into a styled retreat. I’m obsessed and ordering a second!