Way back in 1993 when the world was young and the internet was but a cocky upstart, australian designer Marc Newson collaborated with manufacturer Cappellini to create the inventive Felt Chair. It must have been an auspicious time for Newson because the very same year saw the release of his Orgone Stretch Lounge for Pod Edition, UK. The furnishing combines the notions of single-piece construction and advanced aerodynamic engineering in a “a rigorous exercise in form and material (with) a biomorphic but perfectly symmetrical hourglass form.”

Orgone Stretch Lounge. Designed by Marc Newson for Pod UK.

Newson faced many obstacles in bringing Orgone to fruition. Achieving the single-piece formed aluminum construction required the services of machining and manufacturing from the airline industry, and after soliciting collaboration from an aircraft factory in France, but finding their services prohibitively expensive, the designer ultimately worked with a U.K.-based Aston Martin subcontractor called Bodylines, who specialized in formed aluminum.

The intensive manufacturing process and captivating aesthetic drew international acclaim. Pod Edition, UK released The Orgone Stretch Lounge in a limited edition run of 6. Each features the same highly-reflective and hollow aluminum exterior shell and a distinctive interior, enameled to a high sheen in one of six colors. The piece is unprecedented for its play with negative space, its organic and subtly sexual form, and its evocation of Freudian psychology. Newson has apparently always been somewhat smitten with the shadowy side of things, and the Orgone Lounge engages the perpetual metaphorical interplay between light and dark by evoking such mythological structures as Yin and Yang, black holes, and reflectivity. Combine this symbolic import with a futuristic form (yes, still very forward-looking after 17 years) and aerodynamic engineering and you have a piece purported to fetch upwards of $400,000 at the auction block at Phillips de Pury & Company on May 14.

Via Chairblog.