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Tulu Side Chair

c. 1968

by Kazuhide Takahama
for Cassina

Tulu Side Chair

by Kazuhide Takahama
for  Cassina

or Call to Order

The Tulu side chair is a stack­able sled-base chair designed in 1968 by Kazuhide Taka­hama on commis­sion from Dino Gavina’s Simon company, which was acquired by Cassina in 2013. The Tulu chair offers an early example where, rather than bending a metal tube to make the frame, a thin rod was elec­tric induc­tion-welded before being given a chrome finish. This inno­va­tion made tighter curves possi­ble, while leading to the use of multi­ple welding heads, enabling a piece to be made in one single process. 

When Simon Inter­na­tional became part of the Cassina universe, the Tulu’s manu­fac­tur­ing process was revis­ited and stream­lined further. The seat and back have now been rein­forced by the addi­tion of elastic straps, while the padded cover was given a zip fasten­ing, so it can be removed for cleaning. 

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Kazuhide Takahama

Japan (1930–2010)

Kazuhide Takahama was born in Kyushu, Japan in 1930 and after completing his studies in Architecture in Tokyo, started working in Kazuo Fuioka's studio. In 1957, he came to Italy to visit the Triennale in Milan where he met Dino Gavina with whom he was to work for many years. By 1963 he moved to Bologna and came into contact with the most active Italian designers of the time. He developed his own well-defined stylistic lexis in a climate of profuse cultural exchanges.

His furniture and lighting designs often feature clean lines and formal restraint. In his works, signs from the oriental culture in which he was trained overlap with features of the Western culture in which he was immersed. He has produced designs for Cassina, Knoll, Gavina, and B&B Italia.

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