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interiors
“TENNIS MATCH”
chair

 "The design itself is minimalist,
functional and modern."
 

Why was the design of the chair, now over 40 years old, revisited?

KURT RANGER: My first freelance commission, in 1980, was to create a garden furniture collection. A decade later, in 1990, this collection went into production at Fischer Möbel. The combination of materials – sustainably grown teak, weatherproof fabric and stainless steel – was innovative at the time and set new standards. I still remember visiting the teak forests in Indonesia with Will Seyfang from Fischer Möbel to see firsthand how the wood was grown. The basic design is minimalist, functional and modern, and has great potential. Two years ago, Fischer Möbel and I decided to build on the original concept by developing a new piece: the Tennis Match chair.
 

In what ways have you updated the original concept and what has remained the same?

KURT RANGER: The wooden components retain the formal language of the original design, with an even stronger emphasis on material efficiency and lightweight construction. For the seat and backrest, we chose a different textile, and the X-shaped seam on the backrest cushion is a new addition. To me, these details give the design a meditative quality. After all, garden furniture is always an invitation to sit back and relax.
 

In what ways does repairability influence the design of the chair?

KURT RANGER: Solid teak is renowned for its longevity; it has a long history in boat and shipbuilding. I have owned a table made from this material for over 30 years. It stands on my garden terrace all year round and has become more beautiful with time as the wood’s grain has grown more pronounced. Thanks to its natural oils, teak can be scrubbed, sanded, oiled, or simply left to age gracefully. For furniture to be truly repairable, it must be easy to dismantle so that individual components – such as the fabric covering– can be replaced. Due to its exposure to wind and weather, garden furniture experiences more wear and tear than indoor pieces.
 

Do you have any plans to add to the collection?

KURT RANGER: The current range includes the three-way adjustable Tennis Ergonomic, a stool, a lounger, tables and the new Tennis Match. When the original design was first developed, there was a strong preference for cohesive collections with a uniform look—complete with serving trolleys and chairs. In my view, that has changed. Today, iconic individual pieces of furniture are preferred. We’ll see, but there are certainly ideas in the pipeline.