When it comes to designing your canteen, break room, or cafeteria, we often think of simple, utilitarian furniture and not famous design. However, several famous designers have contributed to designs specifically for the requirements of the canteen. Great furniture design for this space is important not only for aesthetic reasons. In the canteen, it is important to create spaces with greater flexibility. The canteen calls for particularly flexible choices in furniture to achieve the effect of lots of space in the room despite the fact that there is a lot of furniture.

These great designers have contributed designs in canteen furniture that are both pleasing and functional:


Luca Trazzi

Perhaps most famous for his kitchen appliances, Italian-born Lucca Trazzi is both an architect and designer. He has participated in projects such as Milan’s Congress building and the City Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He recently contributed an award-winning canteen design for Illy’s new chain of coffee shops. He created the space using glass-top and chrome pedestal tables and while poly stackable chairs, which he carried over into the serving areas and lighting.

Martin Ballendat

German-born Martin Ballendat has produced a large portfolio of important pieces resulting in over 30 awards for his work. He is known for modern, minimalist furniture designs and is a pioneer in modular furniture work spaces. His canteen furniture includes a table system that is both charming and relaxing and is especially designed for any space with a square, rectangular round column base tables, stackable chairs, and modern chaise style laptop stations.

Another great influence in canteen furniture design is Ballendat’s Stretto Collection. The Stretto table features a split center legs, bench, and chair with new, innovative ultra-thin coil core for superior seating and comfort. The Stretto table which can be ordered with a glass or wood top offers a one-handed leaf extension mechanism. This cutting edge design was nominated for the Interior Innovation Award in 2007.

The clear, uncomplicated form of Ballendat’s canteen designs and simple approach to design is widely replicated.

Herman Miller

The American-born husband and wife architectural and furniture design duo Charles and Ray Eames are most famous for their design of Eames House and the Eames Chair. For the past 40 years, their designs for spaces where people get together have been synonymous with refinement and class. With their range of shapes, finishes, and sizes, Eames tables remain a popular choice for the canteen because of their simple beauty, durability and performance.

The Eames lean and simple segmented-base table uses modular elements that can be configured to support table tops of different lengths and widths.

Eames tables, like all fine art, are designed with the strength and durability to last for decades.

Robin Day

Perhaps the most famous design in canteen furniture is the Poly Chair designed by Brit Robin Day. The Poly Chair is a stackable chair that is a ubiquitous icon of 1960’s British style. The injection molded polypropylene constructions and design allowed it to be one of the first pieces of furniture to be mass produced.

Day’s designs have won numerous accolades including the International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and a Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale.

The Poly Chair was created in 1962 and to this day has sold over 14 million in 23 countries. This innovation is not only a staple in modern canteen design, but has been touted as one of the most democratic modern designs of the 20th century.

The Poly Chair can be seen in schools, in the village hall, in bistros, cafes and canteens- almost everywhere because it is one of the most versatile and affordable design classics available and also one of the most durable. It is a favorite in school cafeteria setting because it can take about 10 years worth of tossing around and endure abuse from school age children of all ages. Day’s Poly Chair is still so successful today that it is produced at the rate of 500,000 per year.

By: Bobbi Crisling

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As well as writing article about contract bar stools and wholesale furniture, Bobbi likes biking very much.