90s Hans Eichenberger ‘eurochair’ & modular sofa for Girsberger set/3

Founded in 1889, Girsberger stands for superior high-quality furniture and services.
The company was set up as a woodworking shop in Zurich. It grew into an international group of companies over the course of many decades and specialises in furniture solutions for office, residential and commercial properties.

After the early death of the founder, Heinrich Girsberger, Wilhelm Girsberger continued to run the business from 1919. The company soon began to flourish. Gradually, the company expanded and relocated within Zurich.

Furniture production at Girsberger began with the manufacture of piano stools. The product range also included dining chairs with ornate features, which were popular during the start-up period.

A new era began with the move in the 1950s from Zurich to Bützberg, where a new head office was built. State-of-the-art machinery in light-filled premises created the optimal prerequisites for modern working conditions, production methods and series production.
Office swivel chairs soon became the core business of the company. Many other forms of seating such as chairs, lounge furniture and steam-bent models were added to the range. The general thrust of design moved towards the Schweizerischer Werkbund (Swiss association of designers). Scandinavian influences came along later.

A partnership with Knoll International also brought international influences. Selected items of furniture – based on concepts by Florence Knoll and Eero Saarinen – were manufactured under licence for the European market.

The Girsberger product portfolio was expanded over time to include commercial property. Lounge furniture based on in-house designs – such as the ‘Modell 1600’ chair – were added to the range and experienced great demand, not just at home but also abroad.

The design brief for the ‘Eurochair 5600’ was to be able to supply an unrivalled model in the middle price range. Fritz Makiol, the designer and head of product development at the time, scored a big hit by using the latest industrial production methods in conjunction with high-tech parts and unusual styling. A whole series of different models was designed by several designers like Hans Eicherberger, Gerhard Schammer, Aksel Larson and Hans Olsen and marketed under the “Eurochair” name – all the way from desk chairs and executive chairs to lounge chairs. The name became synonymous with further economic expansion.

Girsberger still exists and has been taken over in 2007 and is still growing and working in the high class area of office and residential furniture.

This kind of modular sofa set of three pieces is modular to position just by changing the armrest per chair. They also can be individual fauteuils and are comfortable in seating.