10 icons of Space Age design you should know

Futuristic, playful, revolutionary – Space Age design turned the furniture world upside down in the 1960s and 1970s. Plastic replaced wood, shapes became round instead of square, functionality met imagination. And although many of them seem like something out of a science fiction film, the designs from that era are currently enjoying a major comeback. We show you 10 iconic pieces that shaped the Space Age – and are now true collector's items.

1. Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio (1963)

An armchair like a cocoon: The Ball Chair embodies the new space age like no other piece of furniture. With its semi-open spherical shape, it creates a small, acoustically shielded world – and was an instant hit in pop culture, design, and jet-set living rooms.

2. Plia folding chair by Giancarlo Piretti (1967)

A folding chair that now stands in a museum: Piretti's Plia combines chrome with transparent plastic and proves how functional and elegant Space Age can be.

3. Panton Chair by Verner Panton (1967)

The first cantilever chair made from a single piece of plastic: The Panton Chair remains a statement and one of the most famous pieces of furniture of the 20th century.

4. UFO lamps by Guzzini (1970s)

Whether as a pendant light or a table lamp, Guzzini's lamps were colorful, round, and provided atmospheric lighting with a retro-futuristic flair. Typical: a tinted acrylic shade on a round base.

5. Karelia Lounge by Liisi Beckmann (1966)

A wave-shaped foam lounger – the Karelia still feels like a piece of furniture from the future. Comfort, sculpture, and design object all in one.

6. Boby Trolley by Joe Colombo (1970)

Design meets organization: The Boby Trolley is a functional rolling container with rounded shapes and sophisticated layout. Ideal for the studio or home office—and a perennial favorite in the design trade.

7. Djinn Chair by Olivier Mourgue (1965)

A piece of furniture from another galaxy: The Djinn Chair embodies Space Age design like no other. Its flowing, low-slung form, upholstered and covered in stretch fabric, seemed like a futuristic statement at the time – and became world-famous through Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey . Mourgue combined comfort with visual spectacle, creating a piece of furniture that still feels like a time capsule from the future today.

8. F300 Lounge Chair by Pierre Paulin (1967)

The F300 is a futuristic sculpture that also invites you to sit down. Designed by French designer Pierre Paulin, it perfectly reflects the design philosophy of the late 1960s: flowing forms, no sharp edges, a sense of lightness and utopia. With its low seating position and semi-closed curve, it resembles a cross between a space glider and a lounge chair—making it a perfect embodiment of Space Age design. If you're looking for a real insider tip, you'll find it here.

9. Orix Desk – Space Age meets Function

The Orix desk by Gianfranco Frattini , designed for Molteni , brings a Space Age feel to the home office. With its sculptural form, high-gloss surface, and elegant proportions, it looks like something straight out of a retro-futuristic film scene. Yet it remains clearly functional—a true statement for anyone who wants to rethink work and aesthetics. It pairs perfectly with iconic lounge chairs or colorful Plexiglas accessories.

10. Murano Space Age Glass Objects (1970s)

The Space Age was also present in glass art: Murano vases, ashtrays, and lamps with organic shapes, bright colors, and bubble optics speak of the psychedelic side of the movement. More than just decoration— small works of art with a big story .