Behind Kipferl, the new chair by Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, lies the sensitivity of Sigi Moeslinger and Masamichi Udagawa, founders of Antenna.
From the vibrant heart of New York to the subway cars that move millions every day, Antenna has learned to transform ordinary places into extraordinary experiences.
Now they bring this vision to a more intimate setting, the Restaurant Konzerthaus in Vienna, creating a chair that is not just an object, but a gesture of welcome, a promise of comfort, an invitation to pause.
What did you dream of becoming as a child?
SIGI MOESLINGER For me it changed often and included being a doctor, a singer, and an architect.
MASAMICHI UDAGAWA At first, I was drawn to engineering — naval, aeronautical, even nuclear — fascinated by the wonders of technology. Later, I realized I was more interested in form than in mathematics or physics.
What inspired your project for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna?
The context, the chair was originally designed for the restaurant at the Wiener Konzerthaus and led us to explore the idea of a bentwood chair that reflects Vienna’s history as well as a contemporary sensibility.
What makes this piece unique?
It preserves the spirit of the classic Viennese café chair, transforming it into a contemporary dining chair with modern comfort. The welcoming, crescent-shaped backrest gives it its distinctive form.
The GTV piece you’d never give up?
The Czech chair design by Hermann Czech armchair, a true modern classic and one of our favorites!
