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The biggest order in the Brunner company history and a nice success for the alite model: not only Oxford University and the Interlaken (Switzerland) Congress Center, but also the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) go for this stackable row chair. The decisive bonus for awarding this contract: Brunner’s flexibility – after all, alite was modified with regard to the client’s specifications.
More than 11,000 alite chairs are currently being exported to the urban center of Doha to find their place in the largest Congress center of the Arab world. This building, which won the “Leadership in Energy and Environment Design” award, was designed by the renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki. The Congress center with its many superlatives, due to open in 2011, is utterly fascinating thanks to its outstanding architecture: supporting pillars shaped like high-rising tree boughs frame the total exhibition area of 40,000 m², carry the 3,700 m² of roof area equipped with solar cells and endow the building with its harmonious, organic-looking structure. Located in the direct vicinity to elite universities, research and technology corporations, the Center houses on its three levels an auditorium seating 2,500 people, a large conference hall for up to 4,000 guests, numerous exhibition and event halls as well as many smaller rooms for presentations and meetings. Starting in April/May 2011, the first units of a special alite model will be put up in rows here. By that time, they will have come a long and interesting way.
The intensive development process started more than three years ago: together with an American architectural firm, Brunner chose the model alite for this object – this stackable row chair was able to excellently fulfill the demands of the client with respect to design, comfort and handling.
In order to be able to also fulfill the very special visual and technical wishes, some further alterations were necessary as well. A development team of 12 specialists modified this chair for the QNCC: the height of the back support was reduced, and alite was equipped with a completely upholstered backrest which still can be detached quite easily, allowing it to be exchanged. Moreover, this special model now features a high-quality design upholstery fabric by Maharam, sporting a design by Paul Smith. The striped fabric proved to be very demanding during the tailoring stage – an intricate detail that the well-versed Brunner team was able to master quickly. In addition, some country-specific safety rules and regulations as well as cultural factors had to be considered: in order to avoid as far as possible accidental contact between seat neighbors, undesirable in the Arab world, a special distancing unit for the alite row connection was developed –that way, a distance of 5 to 6 cms between chairs was achieved, instead of the 2 cms usual in Europe.
With these client-specific modifications, a product was manufactured which fulfills individual wishes and still remains appropriate in every respect for the deployment in rows. The newly developed alite will soon be manufactured as a normal product. But even before that, the delegates of the OPEC will take a seat on alite during the “20th World Petroleum Congress” in December – a good precondition for constructive talks.