Beetle Dining Chair
Made by GUBI
Designed by GamFratesi
The Beetle Dining Chair arrived in 2013 as one of the defining collaborations between GUBI and the Copenhagen-based studio GamFratesi, a partnership between Italian architect Enrico Fratesi and Danish designer Stine Gam. The chair's silhouette draws from the natural world, its gently curved backrest evoking the carapace of an insect with a quiet, almost sculptural precision.
What makes the Beetle enduring is how it holds two sensibilities at once: the warmth of Scandinavian craft and the discipline of Italian form. The shell is available in fully upholstered, un-upholstered, and 3D veneer front-upholstered versions, each offering a distinct material character. Base options span powder-coated steel and solid wood, allowing the chair to shift in register from residential dining rooms to considered hospitality environments.
- Designed by GamFratesi, released 2013
- Available in upholstered, un-upholstered, and 3D veneer configurations
- Wide selection of shell colors, upholstery textiles, and base finishes
- Suited to residential, restaurant, and contract hospitality settings
The proportions are generous without being heavy. It sits with an ease that encourages long conversation around a table, which is, in the end, what a dining chair is for.
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Beetle Dining Chair
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the GUBI Beetle Dining Chair?
The Beetle Dining Chair was designed by GamFratesi, a studio founded by Danish designer Stine Gam and Italian architect Enrico Fratesi. Their practice is known for work that bridges Scandinavian and Southern European design traditions, and the Beetle is widely regarded as one of their most recognized pieces.
What upholstery and finish options are available for the Beetle Chair?
The Beetle Dining Chair is offered in three shell configurations: un-upholstered, fully upholstered, and a 3D veneer version with an upholstered front. Each version is available across a broad range of fabrics, leathers, shell colors, and base finishes in powder-coated steel or solid wood, making it highly adaptable to specific project requirements.
Is the Beetle Chair suitable for contract or hospitality use?
Yes. The Beetle Dining Chair was designed with both residential and hospitality environments in mind. Its construction and available finishes meet the demands of restaurant and contract settings, and it has been specified widely in hotel dining rooms and high-end restaurant projects internationally.
How does the Beetle Chair's silhouette relate to natural forms?
GamFratesi drew the Beetle's curved backrest from the organic geometry of an insect's shell, specifically referencing the way natural structures achieve both strength and grace through curvature. The result is a chair that reads as figurative from certain angles yet remains formally restrained.
What is the design relationship between GUBI and GamFratesi?
GUBI and GamFratesi have maintained a long-term creative relationship since the Beetle's introduction in 2013, expanding the family across lounge, bar, and accent chair formats. The collaboration reflects GUBI's broader approach of pairing its mid-century Scandinavian heritage with contemporary European design studios.