The Adirondack is a very popular style of outdoor chair, and in Canada it is alternatively known as the Muskoka chair. It is typically characterised by its widely set apart flat arms and rounded fan shaped sloping back panels.
Thomas Lee invented the four legged chair in the early 1900’s as a solution to the lack of outdoor seating whilst on holiday with his family in the Adirondack Mountains of the New York State. The original version was made from just one board of wood, and was cut into eleven sections. Patented by Thomas Lee’s carpenter associate Harry Bunnell in 1905, the Adirondack is also known as the ‘Westport plank chair’, but was only produced by Bunnell in dark green and brown shades.
Designed to sit parallel to the steep mountains that Thomas Lee and his family were residing on, the Adirondack chair’s seat and back both have a slight slant which when used on flat ground make for a very relaxing experience. The style also incorporates a panelled back that is wider at the top and smaller at the bottom, which supports the shoulders. The back is usually in a fan shape, rounded at the top. Also, the chair has quite a large seat that will easily allow space for a cushion. When sitting in the chair, the knees sit higher than the hips (much like a deck chair), so for prolonged sitting, it may be more comfortable to sit on a slope. The wide set arms with a large flat surface provide great support for the arms and allow the user to place drinks and other objects on them whilst sitting. Hence why they’re often chosen for furniture in outdoor café’s and whilst travelling so that there is no need to use or transport tables.
