501 Foster armchair Walter Knoll

Design icon with character: 501 Foster armchair from Walter Knoll

Clear in form, luxurious in detail: the 501 Foster armchair from Walter Knoll is a masterpiece of modern seating culture. Designed by Lord Norman Foster, this armchair combines architectural precision with uncompromising comfort. The elegant silhouette, characterised by flowing lines and balanced proportions, stands for timeless modernity. Whether in a stylish lounge, an upmarket office or as a solitary piece in the living area - the 501 Foster radiates confidence without imposing itself. The highest level of craftsmanship meets the finest materials: exquisite leather or selected fabrics envelop the softly upholstered seat shell, which invites you to linger with its generous depth. The delicate frame emphasises the lightness of the design - robust, but never cumbersome.

Walter Knoll - furniture with a history

The company's history has its origins in a "leather shop" in Stuttgart, which was opened in 1865 by the forefather of the Knoll dynasty, Wilhelm Knoll. In the same year, the seating furniture manufacturer demonstrated his craftsmanship as purveyor to the court of the King of Württemberg. 42 years pass before son Walter takes over the company together with his brother Willy. In the meantime, branches were opened in the metropolises of St. Petersburg and Vienna. In 1925, Walter Knoll founded his own upholstered furniture factory, which has borne his name ever since, in order to set himself apart from the design of his father's company. In addition to leather, coloured fabrics were now also used as upholstery materials. In the 1920s, the invention of the anti-mott spring and the Prodomo system revolutionised the traditional upholstered furniture trade. The furniture of the Prodomo system in particular, with its curved tubular steel frames, pointed the way to modernity. Walter Knoll has been expanding steadily since 2001; in the last 10 years the company has opened showrooms in Berlin, Hamburg, London, Paris, Stockholm, Beijing, Mumbai and Adelaide (Australia).

Material and format

The 501 Foster armchair is made of steel and is available in a wide range of upholstery. 

Cover material:

• Hearth fabric: 32% wool, 31% acrylic, 30% cotton, 7% polyester

• Fabric Grace: 71% viscose, 18% cotton, 10% linen, 1% polyamide

• Fabric Harald: 100% cotton

• Fabric Namib: 33% linen, 20% cotton, 20% wool, 18% viscose, 9% polyester

• Fabric Puro: 70% linen, 20% viscose, 10% polyamide

• Fabric Kimali: 65% cotton, 26% viscose, 9% polyamide

• Fabric Lucia: 30% cotton, 28% viscose, 13% wool, 13% polyacrylic, 9% linen, 4% silk, 3% nylon

• Divina Melange fabric: 100% virgin wool

• Fabric Tonga: 48% polyacrylic, 24% wool, 12% polyester. 10% nylon, 6% cotton

• Carrara fabric: 46% cotton, 45% viscose, 9% linen

• Fabric Garbo: 45% viscose, 30% polyacrylic, 15% linen, 6% cotton, 4% polyester

• Safire fabric: 43% viscose, 17% polyacrylic, 15% virgin wool, 9% cotton, 8% linen, 8% polyester

• Bogar fabric: 31% viscose, 26% cotton, 24% polyacrylic, 10% linen, 8% wool, 1% polyamide

• Sorel fabric: 85% cotton, 12% polyamide, 3% polyacrylic

• Fabric Doux: 35% wool, 35% viscose, 21% cotton, 9% polyamide

• Savannah fabric: 44% linen, 21% cotton, 13% viscose, 11% virgin wool, 7% polyester, 4% polyacrylic

• Fabric Lino: 91% linen, 9% polyamide

• Fabric Tao: 50% cotton, 21% polyacrylic, 13% polyester, 9% linen, 7% polyamide

• Glint fabric: 53% linen, 19% cotton, 16% viscose, 8% nylon, 4% polyamide

• Divina fabric: 100% virgin wool

• Togba fabric: 41% viscose, 26% polyacrylic, 18% cotton, 7% linen, 7% polyester, 1% silk

• Fabric Gaia: 52% polyacrylic, 40% linen, 8% nylon

• Loft fabric: 54% cotton, 46% polyester

• Leather Select: pigmented leather

• Torro leather: semi-aniline leather

• Congress leather: semi-aniline leather

• Elen leather: refined aniline leather / waxed leather

• Vintage leather: leather with vintage effect

• Rodeo-Soft leather: semi-aniline leather

• Cashmere leather: refined leather

• Velvet leather:  Aniline leather

• Safari leather: refined aniline leather
  
  

• W 70 x D 73 x H 71 x seat height 43 x seat depth 52 x armrest height 71 cm