Chierowski and Hałas: Discover the Legacy of Design Masters We Follow
One of the missions of 366 Concept is to raise awareness about the value of Polish design. This mission leads to the revival of its most treasured projects in a refreshed and refined form. We draw from the legacy of the outstanding creators of Polish design. Our dream was to breathe new life into the works of these masters and give them an expression that would fill the esteemed designers with pride. Let us tell you a bit about the figures without whom 366 Concept would not exist.
A triumph over adversity
Polish design in the latter half of the 20th century often faced uphill challenges, yet it managed to emerge successfully from the reality of scarcity. Perhaps it was this very struggle that fueled its creativity. Nothing sparks innovation quite like constraints.
Limited access to materials, their low quality and the necessity to design for industrial production were constant challenges for designers during the People's Republic of Poland (PRL). However, it may be precisely these challenges that we owe for the iconic projects we now celebrate as the gems of Polish design.
1950, review of PWSSP works, third from left, Jozef Chierowski.
Rajmund Teofil Hałas, private archives.
Józef Chierowski and the story of a brilliant accident
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Józef Chierowski the father of our brand. The name 366 Concept is derived from our flagship product: the famous 366 armchair, often described as the most popular Polish piece of furniture of the second half of the 20th century. It came very close to never seeing the light of day.
The design originated in Józef Chierowski’s portfolio during his tenure at the Dolnośląska Fabryka Mebli (Lower Silesian Furniture Factory) in Świebodzice. The factory specialized in producing large wardrobes, sofas, and round extending tables, which were quite different from Chierowski’s minimalist and ergonomic designs.
A blessing in disguise – In 1962, a fire engulfed the furniture factory in Świebodzice, destroying the production halls and machinery of the plant. Previously mocked as "stools on goat legs," the minimalist chairs designed by Józef Chierowski turned out to be a solution that helped recover the financial losses.
The 366 chairs were simple in form and production, crafted from a relatively small amount of materials. The lightweight wooden construction and fresh, minimalist design contributed to the immediate success of the 366 chair. Soon, it found its place in almost every office, café, and restaurant in Poland.
Armchair 366 for PWSSP.
First 366 armchair.
A refreshed version of the 366 Armchair by 366 Concept.
Who was the creator of the chair remembered by Polish parents and grandparents, and coveted in our homes today? Józef Chierowski was born in 1927 in Lviv. The visual artist graduated from the Interior Architecture Department of the State Higher School of Fine Arts in Wrocław, now known as the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design. In 1976, he became the head of the Design Department, and after 1980, he led the Furniture Design Studio.
He was professionally associated with the Świebodzice Furniture Factory and the Miastoprojekt in Wrocław. He designed, among other things, the interiors of the Provincial Public Library in Wrocław. For numerous furniture pieces created during his tenure at Miastoprojekt, he received awards such as the Design Council Award (1960) and the Miastoprojekt Award (1974). However, none of his esteemed designs gained as much fame as the 366 chair.
Rajmund Teofil Hałas – skillful hands and creative vision
What united both masters, whose concepts we had the privilege to present in refreshed form, was a realistic approach to design and emphasis on the function of the object. The best exemplification of this could be the 200-190 chair designed by Rajmund Teofil Hałas. A visual artist, architect, and educator associated with the Poznań environment, Hałas had solid foundations to become a respected furniture designer, as he came from a family of carpenters. His great-grandfather already ran a carpentry workshop in the 19th century, while his father, Teofil, established a furniture factory in Krobia in 1922.
The factory exported furniture to Vienna and Berlin. Today, in its place stands the Museum of Carpentry and Biskupizna, founded by the Rajmund Teofil Hałas Earth of Krobia Foundation.
The future professor of fine arts, whose contributions to Polish industrial design and design cannot be overstated, was a UN fellow at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki. It was during this time that he had the opportunity to meet one of the most influential Scandinavian modernists, Alvar Aalto.
His paths also crossed with Gordon Russell, a British designer and craftsman whose work was greatly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement. Traveling to the West inspired Hałas to initiate the Department of Industrial Design at the University of Arts in Poznań in 1971.
Among Rajmund Teofil Hałas's most famous works are: the three-legged table called "Coffee and Cigarettes," a shelving unit with adjustable heights – designed in 1959 but introduced into production in 2013, the "Imugo" stool, and the 200-190 chair, which you can find in the updated version in the 366 Concept collection.
A well-known icon of Polish design, likely seen in many cafes and restaurants, it combines functional yet decorative form inspired by Art Deco aesthetics with the simplicity of Danish design.
