Manufacturer: Vitra | Designer: Studio OE, 2026
Compact Form, Full Recline
The Bascule Lowback Lounge Chair by Studio OE, Anne-Sophie Oberkrome and Lisa Ertel, brings the Bascule's responsive movement to a lower, more compact silhouette. Its name is the French word for seesaw. As you shift your weight, the concealed mechanism adjusts automatically, carrying you from an upright angle to a nearly horizontal recline without a manual lever, so comfort follows how you sit rather than how you set the chair.
The cover is cut and fitted like a piece of tailoring, wrapping around the structure to give the chair its soft, relaxed look while allowing the full range of movement. It can be removed for professional cleaning or replacement, and the chair's individual elements can be repaired or exchanged. Choose a lower or higher seat height to suit your space, and a matching Ottoman or Bench makes a comfortable footrest.
For UK fire safety compliance, the seat cushion uses conventional polyurethane foam rather than Vitra's recyclable V-Foam; the back cushion and armrests use fibre-ball filling rather than recycled PET fibre. The loose cover and soft cushioning are designed to move with you, so folds and creases in the fabric, pressure marks after sitting, and some visible outlines of the chamber cushions are normal. How noticeable they are will depend on the chosen fabric. Regularly shake and plump the cushions to help them keep their fullness and shape.
For more information on available fabrics and leathers, visit the Vitra Colour & Material Library.
Specifications
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Dimensions (Seat height 38cm): W85 × D81–90 × H76cm (seat height 38cm)
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Dimensions (Seat height 43cm): W85 × D81–90 × H81cm (seat height 43cm)
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Further dimensions: depth varies as the chair reclines. Seat width 56.5cm; seat depth 50cm; armrest height 56cm; four-star base width 54cm.
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Structure: powder-coated tubular steel frame with tensioned fabric back; concealed steel mechanism with automatic weight adjustment.
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Cushions: UK-specification polyurethane foam in the seat; fibre-ball filling in the back cushion and armrests.
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Base: four-star swivel base in die-cast aluminium, powder-coated or blasted; a wooden base is also available.
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Upholstery: loosely fitted, removable fabric cover.
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Glides: hard glides for carpet; felt glides for hard floors available on request.
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Care: shake and plump cushions regularly. Have the removable cover professionally cleaned to prevent shrinkage or damage; do not machine-wash.
Prices shown are for single-fabric upholstery. Both Bascule Highback and Lowback are available in duo-tone in the same fabric group for a surcharge. Also available with wooden base Contact us for other configurations.
Part of the Vitra Lounge Chairs collection. Also available with a taller backrest as the Bascule Highback Lounge Chair.
