Maarten Baas
Designer and artist Maarten Baas has taken the design world by storm with his unique vision and creative brain. He created his first mass-produced chair for furniture label Lensvelt, despite his earlier promise (to himself) not to do so.
Maarten Baas came up with a simple but original chair, which led to a unique design: the iconic Maarten Baas chair. This chair, with 8 different backrests, looks like they were drawn by a child. This masterpiece not only pushed the boundaries of mass production, but also won the prestigious 2017 Milano Design Award for best concept.
A complete collection has since been developed around the original chair. There are bar stools in two heights, with and without armrests, a wooden version of the MB chair, a stackable version, a height-adjustable office chair with casters, a stool, a bench and a table.
An important theme in Maarten Baas's work is the rebellious, playful, and theatrical nature of his designs, which are often infused with an intellectual twist.
For the presentation of the Maarten Baas 101 chair during Milan Design week 2017, Maarten conceived an installation called "May I have your attention, please?"
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Maarten Baas 101 Chair became an award winning best seller
May I have your attention, please
Lensvelt clearly demonstrated its dedication with striking and award-winning presentations at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. This achievement illustrates Lensvelt's successful bridge between the commercial world and renowned artists, including not only Maarten Baas but also Joep van Lieshout and Studio Job. The collaboration with Maarten Baas is yet another example of Lensvelt's ability to seamlessly connect the worlds of commerce and high-end art.
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Maarten Baas and Hans Lensvelt with the Maarten Baas 101 Chair in the installation 'May I have your attention, please?' during Milan Design Week 2017.
Award winning project 'May I have your attention please' presented in Milan 2017
Concept sketches of the Maarten Baas chair.
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The Maarten Baas chair applied in Synchroon's office, by Beyond Space.
Click here to see more of this project 'Synchroon'.
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Project Zones Urbaines Sensibles in Rotterdam by Elma van Boxtel and Kristian Koreman. Photo: Inga Powilleit
Project Zones Urbaines Sensibles in Rotterdam by Elma van Boxtel and Kristian Koreman. Photo: Inga Powilleit
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Project Schiphol VIP centre Interieurontwerp Marcel Wanders studio
Click here to see more of Project Schiphol VIP centre
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At Capital Kitchen the restaurant of creative hub Capital C in Amsterdam, MB bar stools and chairs have been applied.
The frames of the MB 101 chairs at Capital Kitchen are finished in custom colors.
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Project Aidsfonds Amsterdam by Hollandse Nieuwe Architecten, showing Maarten Baas 141 stackable chairs and 901 barstools in oak.
Maarten Baas 101 chairs at Aidsfonds with matching frame and upholsty.
See more of Aidsfonds click here to view the project.
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Café restaurant Renilde, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Architecten: Concrete Amsterdam
Colorful Maarten Baas 101 chairs in the Renilde restaurant accent the long wooden tables. Click here to see more of the project.
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Project Swissport Aspire Travelers lounge, Interior Design by Ideal Projects
The new lounge at Eindhoven Airport is equipped with MB 101 chairs in plum shades.
Click here to see more of this airport project at Eindhoven Airport.
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Project Sony Music Amsterdam created by Beyond Space architects. Click here to see more.
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Project Tyler The Bar in Moscow, Russia, by V12 ARCHITECTS .
Maarten Baas 101 chairs in a bright color combination at Tyler The Bar.
Click here to see more of this project in Moscow.
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A special edition of the Maarten Baas 101 Chair was created by fashion designer Walter van Beirendonck by invitation of Maarten Baas himself.
Walter Van Beirendonck and Maarten Baas with two of the 120 special edition CHARACTERS chairs.
CHARACTERS a special edition of the Maarten Baas Chair.
A fashion outfit by Van Beirendonck complemented the installation.
Embroidered details on the armrest with a social message.
Click here to see more of the limited edition CHARACTERS by Walter Van Beirendonck.
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Project Cafe Groninger Museum click here to see more of the museum where Maarten baas held a solo exposition in 2016.
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Project Wow Lieven a new cultural hub in Amsterdam. Click here to see more.
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Project Nieuwspoort, Den Haag. Click here to see more of this project.
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A residence on the Singel canal in Amsterdam with Maarten Baas 101 Chairs.
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Project Museum W in Weert by architect Maurice Mentjens. Click here to see more.
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Project Magdalene a restaurant in New York City.
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Maarten Baas 101 Chairs upholstered with 3D fabric By Borre for their Milan Design Week installation 2023.
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A basement apartment in Amsterdam on the Keizersgracht.
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For Milan Design Week 2019 Lensvelt transformed their favorite restaurant into a Maarten Baas pop up restaurant.
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Project Evoluon in Eindhoven. Click here to learn more.
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Maarten Baas 101 chair_ available in eight various backs
Maarten Baas table_ teamed with the Maarten Baas 101 chair
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The story
The cooperation between Lensvelt and Maarten Baas starts on 27 October 2016. That evening, Hans Lensvelt and Anne van der Zwaag organized a networking dinner at the Lensvelt Gallery on the Herengracht in Amsterdam.
The conversation was about the next Salone del Mobile in Milan. Erik Kessels (co-founder KesselsKramer agency) and Anne suggested to Hans to create a presentation with Maarten Baas. Hans Lensvelt checks out the website of Maarten Baas on his phone. Hans's doubts are confirmed when he reads the text 'Maarten Baas is not interested in mass production'.
Lensvelt used to be CEO of MOOOI and knows Maarten Baas from the MOOOI Smoke Chair and the Smoke Armchair.
Following his designs for MOOOI Maarten Baas developed from designer to autonomous artist, so Hans saw no point in a collaboration but Anne van der Zwaag, cultural entrepreneur, was persistent.
And soon there was a plan and a concept: the presentation in Milan would be about the nearly 3,000 exhibitors who are all clamoring for attention. All of whom are crying out:
"May I have Your Attention Please."
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Hans Lensvelt, Anne van der Zwaag en Erik Kessels
Maarten Baas' Smoke Chair
