Redesign 
The term redesign refers to the transformation 
and restyling of existing design objects and is 
mainly associated with the architect and de- 
signer Alessandro Mendini, who in the late 
1970s redesigned furniture classics-includ- 
ing Marcel Breuer’s tubulär Steel armchair 
“Wassily,” Giö Ponti’s chair “Supperleggera,” 
and the Thonet model No. 14-by adding col- 
ors, patterns, and shapes. 1 Only a short time 
later, the artist Bruno Gironcoli also redesigned 
a bentwood chair: In the mid-1980s, he 
equipped the bentwood chair No. 41 from the 
D. G. Fischei and sons Company, which was 
produced in around 1890, with a sculptural 
attachment made of brass, which serves as a 
seat with armrests, and an iron reinforcement 
of the legs. In a similar way, the Austrian de- 
signer group March Gut developed a so-called 
add-on, which allows a found classic Thonet 
chair to be given a practical redesigning. The 
add-on, which was developed in 2013, con- 
sists of a black, yellow or white lacquered Steel 
bracket, which can be hung on the backrest 
and clamped under the seat-thus providing 
the chair with armrests. The characteristic 
bending radii of the tubulär Steel contrast with 
the shapes of the bentwood furniture, but can 
also give a whole group of differing chairs a 
uniform appearance. 
1 See also Daniel Klapsing, Forschung durch Redesign, Tübingen/ 
Berlin 2017. 
„Marina's Desire“ (verstellbare Armlehne mit Thonet-Sessel Nr. 14) 
(adjustable armrest with Thonet Chair No. 14) 
Entwurf und Ausführung Design and execution: March Gut, Linz, 2013 
Sessel Nr. 14 Chair No. 14 von from Gebrüder Thonet, Wien Vienna, 1859 (Ausführung um 1885 
Execution ca. 1885); Buche, massiv gebogen, Stahlrohr Beech, solid bent, tubulär steel; 
Besitz der Designer Property of the designers 
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