Featured Designer of the Week:
Terje Ekstrøm – Redefining the Way We Sit
When discussing the icons of Scandinavian furniture design, names such as Arne Jacobsen, Hans J. Wegner and Verner Panton often come to mind. Yet among them stands a designer whose work broke away from convention and challenged everything we thought we knew about seating. Terje Ekstrøm was not interested in designing another comfortable chair—he wanted to rethink the relationship between the human body and furniture itself.
Born in Norway in 1944, Terje Ekstrøm belonged to a generation of designers who were willing to question established ideas. While much of Scandinavian design became synonymous with clean lines, understated elegance and restrained minimalism, Ekstrøm explored a more experimental direction. He viewed furniture as something dynamic rather than static, believing that good design should encourage movement, adapt to its user and evoke an emotional response.
Throughout his career, Ekstrøm combined ergonomics, sculpture and psychology into his work. Rather than asking how furniture should look, he asked how people naturally move, rest and interact with the objects around them. This human-centred philosophy would ultimately lead to the creation of one of the most recognisable chairs in modern design history.
Designed in 1972, the Ekstrem™ Chair was unlike anything the design world had seen before. At first glance, its sculptural silhouette appears almost abstract—an intricate arrangement of geometric curves wrapped in a seamless knitted textile. More than a chair, it resembles a contemporary sculpture, making an immediate visual statement in any interior.
Yet beneath its bold appearance lies a carefully considered ergonomic concept. Unlike traditional lounge chairs that encourage a single sitting position, the Ekstrem™ Chair invites freedom. Users can sit facing forwards, sideways or backwards, cross their legs comfortably, rest an arm over the backrest or lean against its sculptural frame in countless ways. Every angle offers a different seating experience, allowing the chair to adapt naturally to the body rather than forcing the body to adapt to the chair.
This philosophy was remarkably forward-thinking. Decades before active seating and ergonomic flexibility became widely discussed, Ekstrøm recognised that true comfort comes from movement rather than remaining in a fixed position. The Ekstrem™ Chair encourages subtle changes in posture throughout the day, creating a seating experience that feels intuitive, playful and surprisingly relaxing.
The chair also reflects the cultural optimism and experimental spirit of the 1970s. During a period when designers were pushing the boundaries between art, architecture and industrial design, Ekstrøm created an object that blurred those distinctions. It became simultaneously furniture, sculpture and conversation piece—challenging expectations while remaining genuinely functional.
Over the years, the Ekstrem™ Chair has earned international recognition as one of the defining works of postmodern Scandinavian design. It has appeared in museums, galleries, design exhibitions and editorial publications worldwide, admired not only for its unmistakable form but also for the originality of the thinking behind it. Today it is appreciated by architects, interior designers, collectors and design enthusiasts who value pieces that combine innovation with lasting relevance.
Its versatility is another reason for its enduring popularity. While visually expressive, the chair integrates surprisingly well into a wide range of interiors. In minimalist spaces it serves as a bold focal point; in colourful contemporary homes it complements playful compositions; and in hospitality, gallery or office environments it introduces personality without compromising comfort. Few furniture pieces possess such a distinctive identity while remaining so adaptable.
The Ekstrem™ Chair available in our showroom is produced by Varier, the Norwegian furniture company dedicated to preserving Terje Ekstrøm's original vision. Crafted using premium materials and meticulous manufacturing techniques, each chair maintains the integrity of the original 1972 design while meeting the expectations of contemporary living. The seamless knitted upholstery, carefully engineered frame and exceptional craftsmanship ensure that every detail reflects the quality associated with Scandinavian furniture production.
More than fifty years after its introduction, the Ekstrem™ Chair continues to inspire a new generation of designers. Its influence can be seen in contemporary furniture that prioritises movement, interaction and user experience over rigid conventions. What once appeared radical has become increasingly relevant as modern design embraces flexibility, wellbeing and individuality.
Terje Ekstrøm's legacy extends far beyond a single chair. His work reminds us that exceptional design is not created simply to be admired—it is created to be experienced. The Ekstrem™ Chair embodies this philosophy perfectly, transforming an everyday object into an invitation to move, explore and engage with design in a completely new way.
At Expo Home, we are proud to present the Ekstrem™ Chair as part of our curated collection of contemporary European design. It is a piece that captures attention instantly, but its true brilliance reveals itself only when you sit in it. More than a statement piece, it is a reminder that the most enduring designs are those that continue to surprise, challenge and delight us, no matter how many decades have passed.
Shop the Ekstrem™ chair at Expo Home