For our collaboration with Modernista, Mikuláš Brukner dressed Jindřich Halabala’s iconic H-70 armchair in bespoke knitted covers, then added 24 knitted wall pieces and a set of throws and cushions. The spark for it all? The graphic work of Wallachian artist Jožka Baruch.
Together with Modernista, we decided to give one of their best-loved designs, the H-70 armchair, a whole new look. Two of the chairs now wear our bespoke covers, and they’ve gained a fresh, youthful twist. We knitted them using our own technique that blends knitting with weaving. The reclining version even has a reversible headrest cushion, so you can switch between two motifs whenever you like.
The look of the collection comes straight from Jožka Baruch, a graphic artist from Moravian Wallachia. His bold woodcut line runs through every piece, and one of the upholstery motifs is based on a cradle he designed for Artěl. Mikuláš got to know Baruch’s work up close thanks to the artist’s family, who opened up his entire estate to him. He also visited the Moravian Tapestry Manufactory, where Baruch once designed rugs and tapestries. Taking his cue from the weavers’ handwork, Mikuláš turns Baruch’s motifs into knitted tapestries.
“I wanted to keep the essence of Baruch’s hand, but use contemporary craft to bring it into the 21st century,” says Mikuláš.
The chairs are joined by a limited edition of knitted wall pieces. To make these bold, graphic works possible, we developed a special material just for hanging panels. Each piece is a new take on one of Baruch’s prints. A soft blur makes some motifs fade in and out, so you find yourself searching the image for familiar shapes. “The idea was never to copy Baruch one-to-one in knit. We wanted to take his strong graphic language, soften it and make it feel current,” Mikuláš adds. Every motif exists only once: 12 pieces measuring 140 × 80 cm and 12 measuring 40 × 80 cm. Want something made just for your space? For architects and discerning clients, we create wall pieces to order, with your own motifs and colours.
The colours are Baruch’s own, mixed up in new combinations.
To round things off, there are cushions and throws with simple waves and swallows, knitted from a wonderfully soft cotton–linen blend.
The collection made its debut at Designblok 2026 in the Modernista showroom in Vinohrady. You can see it and take it home there until January 2027. You’ll also find it at the Modernista stores in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague and the House of the Black Madonna, or online at modernista.cz.
Photos: Kateřina Lohrová
