Sam Office: the return of a classic

Some furniture designs are built to stand the test of time. They’re the ones that age gracefully. The ones that are used for generations, rather than years. These pieces deserve the spotlight, so that’s why we’re reintroducing the Sam Office. What better way to celebrate 100 years of craftmanship than with the revival of a true icon?

Originally designed in 1973 by Sam Larsson, the Sam chair combined a stunning silhouette with outstanding comfort, helping to add luxury to dining rooms for years after its launch. Following the initial success, the range was expanded and the Sam Executive was born.

This design followed the same philosophy as the original with smooth lines and curves, sculpted steel with intricate, clean welds, and luxurious upholstery. However, a number of changes were carefully made to make it more suited to a corporate environment.

It featured padded arm rests, and the height was adjustable, although this was a manual process involving loosening and tightening a hex nut, and the angle was adjusted to account for the requirements of sitting at a desk. There were also wheels on the legs so it could be moved more easily.

The revival of the Sam Executive, now called the Sam Office, was not a case of simply restarting production, though, as the chair has been carefully redesigned to capture the heart of the original while offering thoughtful updates to make it better suited to modern lives.

Modernising an icon

The most important part of the reintroduction of the Sam Office was to find the right balance between retaining the essence of the original and meeting the demands and desires of today’s customers.

“We decided to make updates that would add to its functionality and ensure it better meets the needs of modern working environments,” says Tobias Almén, Head of Product at DUX. “For example, one key update was the decision to include a gas pillar so it’s possible to easily adjust the height with a lever instead of the more manual process required with the original.”

This change represents a significant upgrade, but it also led to some other design alterations that would ensure the form and function still worked well together, as Tobias explains:

“It’s a bit more grounded now. As we wanted to add the ability to adjust the height, we needed to ground it and create a heavier structure in the base. One challenge, however, was finding a way to implement that very neat sculptural swoop from the original that goes from the upper part down to the base, but in a way where each part fits into each other without adding any unnecessary materials or weight. With the new design, we managed to combine the old with the new in an aesthetic way, where the dimensions and details are right and every component works in harmony.”

In addition to these enhancements, the steel alloy has also been altered to be slightly firmer, while the seating position has been adjusted to make it better suited to working at a desk. The result is a chair that looks sculptural, and it’s an ideal fit for the home office or for any corporate environment. And it’s not just built to meet today’s needs, but engineered and designed to last long into the future.

Material matters

The combination of carefully shaped and welded steel tubing with high quality upholstery lends the Sam Office a timeless quality that has all the hallmarks of a classic DUX product. It’s a chair that’s designed to be used. It’s comfortable and well built, yet aesthetically pleasing. And every part of it has been designed and made with real care.

“The welding is so fine that you can’t really see the welds or joints, which is very aesthetically pleasing and gives a real hand-crafted feel to the base,” says Tobais. “Meanwhile, customers can basically pick any combination of our material and leather collection and combine it with a support weave in either a plain polyester weave or flax, or a linen weave, meaning they get a chair that’s truly theirs. Our collections are constantly updated with new leathers too, and the materials and techniques naturally evolve with the portfolio.”

In addition to the many options available when first investing in the Sam Office, the upholstery can also easily be replaced when required, adding to the longevity and sustainability of the chair. The result is a piece of furniture designed to last for generations, and this chair will age gracefully regardless of the materials chosen.

“These pieces they are actually built and made by people who are proud to do so,” adds Tobias, “and these are products that will last with you and age with you.”

A special way to revive a classic

A special edition of the Sam Office will be launched as part of the centenary celebrations. Only 100 will be made, and each will be individually numbered. This edition will be upholstered with 100% olive-tanned leather, which is the result of a specialised treatment process that gives the leather unique qualities and characteristics.

“It’s an aniline leather that is tanned using the leaves and debris that falls in the process of collecting olives from trees,” explains Tobias. “This is used to make a tea, which is actually drinkable, and then this tea is reduced into a syrup that’s used as the tanning detergent. The leather is then tanned, and you get a very soft leather that has a hint of olive in its aroma. It’s then greased, as leather needs moisture to last, and then you have this amazing, delicate, lovely product.”

The process, and the product itself, also represent our commitment to sustainability in manufacture and materials. The tanning detergent is made from byproducts that would otherwise be thrown away or burned, and the water released back into the river following production is cleaner than when it is first collected from the river.

“Since it’s limited, we wanted to go the extra mile and have something we haven’t had before when it comes to leather,” says Tobias. “This special product deserves the spotlight, and it should be released with a bang!”