Making a return to the outdoors

Originally developed as an outdoor chair for the Eero Saarinen and Alexander Girard-designed home of industrialist J. Irwin Miller, the Eames Aluminium Group offers maximum comfort with a minimalist profile. Newly updated with a range of highly durable finish options including Outdoor Weave fabric, the Aluminium Group Lounge Chair, Side Chair, and Ottoman are once again ready to return to their roots: outdoors.

Take it outside

To equip the chairs and ottoman for outdoor use, we developed a new fabric that would be durable enough to weather the elements whilst still feeling good against your skin. Outdoor Weave retains the spirit of the original 1958 polyester plastic film and builds on the technical capabilities of the Aeron chair’s Pellicle suspension material. Outdoor Weave combines a sturdy mono-filament polypropylene for strength and elasticity, with four multi-filament polypropylene yarns to give it a great look and feel. It’s also recyclable and contains no harmful PVC. It is available in several tones selected to complement the choice of powder-coated frames.

Rear view of a black Eames Aluminum Group outdoor chair, focusing on the proprietary Outdoor Weave fabric.
Three-quarter rear view of an Eames Aluminum Group outdoor lounge chair in a black weave fabric.

Creative craft

The assembly of the Eames Aluminium Group Outdoor is as crucial an element of its design as how it feels to sit in. The Eameses not only designed each element of the chairs and ottoman, but also the process by which they are crafted. We do it the same way today as it was done in 1958.

A continuous piece of Outdoor Weave is fed between the aluminium ribs, which are then turned inside out and attached to the cross members. Because of this process, the chair offers considerable comfort and support without any of the bulk or weight of a traditional upholstered chair. The fabric itself becomes the seat, with a firm, flexible “sitting pocket” that conforms subtly to the body’s shape.

Durability and use

With one-piece, curved aluminium side ribs and a die-cast aluminium base, the chair is strong yet lightweight. To make it easy to move, the upper cross member doubles as a handle.

Available with or without arms, the Eames Aluminium Group Side Chair Outdoor is suitable for any location where a dining-height chair is called for, and naturally complements our range of Eames Tables Outdoor.

The Eames Aluminium Group Lounge Chair Outdoor goes perfectly with the matching Eames Aluminium Group Ottoman, works equally well as a cluster of multiple chairs around a low table for an informal sitting area.

An Eames Aluminum Group outdoor ottoman in a black weave fabric.