History
Where it all started
In 1976, Norwegian designer Hans Christian Mengshoel researched ways to make sitting more balanced and natural. He discovered that tilting the seat slightly forward encouraged better posture, increased mobility, and reduced pressure. Adding shin supports prevented users from sliding forward while keeping the hips in a more open position. This led to the development of the balans concept and modern kneeling chair, marking an important innovation in Norwegian furniture design.
Hans Christian Mengshoel collaborated with designers Oddvin Rykken, Peter Opsvik, and Svein Gusrud to develop chairs based on the balans concept. Their unconventional designs challenged traditional ideas about sitting and were showcased at the 1979 Scandinavian Furniture Fair in Copenhagen, gaining significant attention. Among them, Peter Opsvik’s Variable became an iconic design, encouraging people to move naturally while sitting.
Peter Opsvik
Peter Opsvik (1939–2024) was a Norwegian industrial designer and artist best known for radically rethinking how we sit. He became one of the most influential figures in Scandinavian furniture design, particularly through ergonomic chairs that encourage movement rather than forcing the body into one fixed posture.
