With clear contours and sophisticated details, Leowald’s designs of chairs comprising a shell structure, shaped the character of Wilkhahn-specific “architect’s chairs”. In the mid-1950s, he presented a plastic structure as the “chair of the future”, that just happened to come true: due to much high flexibility performance, his glass fibre-reinforced seat shells were considerably more comfortable that Charles Eames’ “plastic chairs”, designed for Herman Miller.
The 2002 model with a four-legged steel tube frame marked the first and simplest example of an extensive chair family.

Prof. Dr. Georg Leowald
Production period from 1954 to 1966
Wilkhahn

Seat: Glass fibre-reinforced polyester, red
Back: Glass fibre-reinforced polyester, red
Frame: Steel, white

Seat height: 46 cm
Overall height: 80 cm
Width: 52 cm
Depth: 50 cm

List price 73.50 DM (Price List 38 – 1950s)

Prof. Dr. Georg Leowald, a teacher at the Ulm University of Design (HfG), joined Wilkhahn at the end of the 1950s. He went on to create numerous successful designs. These designs were characterized by clear lines and refined details in both traditional woodcraft and innovative plastic technology, reflecting the typical "architect chairs" for Wilkhahn. He presented a plastic structure as the "chair of the future," and he was proven right. His fiberglass seat shells, such as the 2002, 227, 240, or 241 models, outshone Charles Eames' and Herman Miller's "Plastic Chairs" with their improved elasticity.