Bastille Chairs by Piet Blom for University of Twente, 1965, Set of 8

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Designed in 1964 as a cohesive part of his larger architectural vision for the University of Twente, these ‘Bastille’ chairs … Read more Designed in 1964 as a cohesive part of his larger architectural vision for the University of Twente, these ‘Bastille’ chairs represent a landmark moment in Dutch design history. Piet Blom, who is celebrated for his radical structuralist designs like the Cube Houses in Rotterdam, applied his architectural philosophy directly to furniture form. Blurring the lines between construction, geometry and utility.

Manufactured by Huizenga NV, each chair features a bold, constructivist silhouette crafted from lacquered wood. The defining characteristic is the striking red color that transitions seamlessly into a circular seat and anchored against a contrasting black frame with a clean, rectangular backrest. Heavily influenced by the Dutch Modernism of Gerrit Rietveld and the De Stijl movement, the chairs rely on clear intersecting lines and sharp structural logic rather than unnecessary ornament.

Because only 400 chairs were ever produced, and a vast majority were lost, discarded, or modified during university renovations over the decades, a verified, large set of eight matching original pieces is practically impossible to source. This set represents a museum-grade opportunity for serious mid-century modern, architectural, or avant-garde design collections.

All remain in good condition. The chairs show an honest, attractive patina to the lacquered surfaces consistent with institutional use in a student center. Structurally perfect and all are marked with the original TU Twente tags underneath. This piece has an attribution mark,
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