S 760: When Stackability Becomes Part of the Floor Plan

In a multipurpose room, the chair determines more than where people sit: it determines how easily the room can change.

Every change from a lecture to a conference, a dining setup or an empty floor requires chairs to be moved, stacked, stored and brought back again. Thonet’s new S 760, designed by Uwe Sommerlade and launched in 2026, approaches that recurring transition as part of the chair’s design. Its moulded beech veneer shell is connected to two tubular-steel leg frames through plastic bracket coverings. Integrated into these elements is a stacking groove that automatically guides the next chair into position, allowing up to 20 chairs to form a compact, almost vertical stack.

Photography: © Fabian Frinzel

The system is designed to reduce another common complication in flexible venues: sorting different chair configurations before storage. Versions with and without armrests share the same 53-centimetre centre-to-centre dimension and can be stacked or linked together. Two dedicated stacking trolleys support transport between storage and use.

Photography: © Fabian Frinzel

The same attention extends to the room when the chairs are deployed. The legs are angled to keep circulation between rows clear, while an optional anti-panic linking mechanism is integrated into the frame bracket and requires no separate components or tools. A writing tablet can also remain attached while the chairs are stacked or connected in rows.

Photography: © Fabian Frinzel

For architects planning conference halls, training spaces and other frequently reconfigured interiors, these details shift the specification from the individual chair to the operation of the room. Storage area, transport routes, floor surfaces, row configurations and the frequency of change all become part of the same design problem.

The S 760 also uses a modular construction that allows individual components to be replaced rather than requiring the complete chair to be discarded. In a space designed to change repeatedly, durability therefore depends not only on how a chair performs while occupied, but also on how well it can withstand the cycles between one configuration and the next.

Photography: © Fabian Frinzel

Thonet is a German furniture manufacturer with roots dating back to 1819, known for its development of bentwood and tubular-steel furniture. Today, the company combines this design heritage with contemporary furniture for residential, workplace, hospitality and event environments.

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