Luis Ghost

The Louis Ghost chair, designed by Philippe Starck for Kartell, is an icon of contemporary design. Launched in 2002, it has become one of the world's most famous bestsellers. It was first presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and represented a technical and stylistic revolution in the world of furniture.

The Louis Ghost design required approximately two years of experimentation to produce a transparent polycarbonate monocoque chair through injection molding in a single piece, without joints or secondary assemblies. This technological process was cutting-edge at the time and required a steel mold costing over €300,000. In subsequent years, Kartell updated the material used, adopting a polycarbonate derived largely from industrial waste, certified for its lower environmental impact.

Louis Ghost is made of transparent, UV-stabilized polycarbonate, which guarantees long-lasting durability without yellowing over time. The chair is extremely lightweight, yet highly resistant to impact and weather, stackable, and versatile for both indoor and outdoor use. In addition to clear glass, it is also available in various colors. The standard dimensions make the seat comfortable and practical.

Philippe Starck's design for the Louis Ghost recalls the shape of a classic Louis XVI-style baroque armchair, but revisited with irony and modernity, simplifying the lines in a minimalist style. Its transparency makes the chair "invisible" to the eye, allowing for a discreet yet elegant presence in any setting. Starck described this chair as an "illusion," giving its user the sensation of sitting on a "throne of France" without visual weight.

With over three million pieces sold in just over twenty years, the Louis Ghost is the world's best-selling designer chair in its category. It is appreciated for its affordable price, its ease of integration into a variety of residential and public spaces, and its ability to combine aesthetics and functionality. It has been exhibited in museums, used by famous figures, and reinterpreted by artists and designers in various versions.

Louis Ghost is therefore much more than a simple chair: it is a symbol of technological innovation, sustainability, and a manifesto of Philippe Starck's democratic design and Kartell's stylistic and manufacturing research.