Knoll BRNO Flat Bar Armchairs by Mies van der Rohe, Set of 6

This set of six BRNO armchairs by Knoll takes one of the most disciplined designs of the 20th century and gives it just the right amount of drama. Custom upholstered in a vivid, unapologetic purple, these chairs lean fully into over-the-top modernism while remaining perfectly grounded in the clean, architectural language that defines the BRNO. The result is a rare balance: playful but serious, expressive yet unmistakably Mies.

Originally designed in 1930 by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for his famed Tugendhat House in Brno, Czech Republic, the BRNO chair is one of the purest expressions of modernist thinking. The cantilevered steel frame eliminates back legs entirely, allowing the chair to appear as though it floats. It’s a design that looks effortless but is anything but — engineered precision disguised as simplicity. Knoll later introduced the BRNO to a wider audience, and it has remained in continuous production ever since, a testament to how thoroughly timeless the design truly is.

Mies van der Rohe, born in 1886 in Aachen, Germany, was one of the most influential architects and designers of the modern era. A former director of the Bauhaus, Mies helped define the International Style and famously distilled his philosophy down to “less is more.” His work, from the Barcelona Pavilion and Barcelona chair to the Farnsworth House and Seagram Building has reshaped the way we think about space, structure, and material. Through Knoll, his furniture designs became accessible extensions of his architectural ideals, allowing modernism to live not just in buildings, but in everyday interiors.

What makes this particular set special is the upholstery choice. The bold purple fabric transforms the BRNO from quiet icon to confident statement piece, without compromising its integrity. The tubular steel frames keep everything disciplined and architectural, while the color injects personality, glamour, and a slightly rebellious edge. These are chairs that feel just as at home around a serious dining table as they do in a design-forward office, gallery, or postmodern interior that isn’t afraid of color.

For collectors and designers alike, the BRNO sits comfortably alongside other modernist legends: Marcel Breuer’s Cesca chairs, Le Corbusier’s LC series, Eileen Gray’s architectural experiments, Florence Knoll’s refined interiors, and Mies’ own Barcelona and MR collections. It’s part of a lineage that values structure, proportion, and honesty of materials- even when dressed up in something unexpected.

This set of six offers a rare opportunity to own a classic modernist form with a contemporary, high-impact twist. It’s timeless design with a wink, serious modernism having a little fun, and proof that even the most disciplined icons can handle a splash of color.