A few days ago, we put forth before you the work of two designers who enthralled us with their awesome product called the walking chair and now we come up again with the same designers, Karl Emilio Pircher and Fidel Peugeot but not with their product rather with an interview, contents of which follows after a li’le jump.

1. The first and most rhetoric question is, how and when did you guys come up with such an extraordinary concept?

Karl & Peugeot: The chair is pretty much each designer’s master piece, especially in a city like Vienna with its design-history (remember the coffee house chair thonet nr. 14 so Karl Emilio wanted to do something really new. There has never been a chair that walks before, so it was imperative to design and construct it - now!

2. What material did you make use of?

Karl & Peugeot: It is made from plastic, natural rubber and steel tubes with an electronic heart.... but there are variations of the walking-chair available, using wood, too.

3. What are views for the HUBO FX-1, a walking robotic chair, developed Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology?

Karl & Peugeot: The approach here is completely different: the walking-chair is a piece of art, it is a statement in interior and furniture design, whilst the HUBO FX-1 is a statement in the field of technology and science, looking for perfection in this unique kind of transportation. The walking-chair is looking for smiles and to inspire people, it is not a robot, we like to say, it is more an abstract animal and a piece of furniture that becomes your friend.

The outcome might be comparable, even though the FX-1 has only 2 legs and I do not even want to compare the budgets. Karl Emilio pretty much did all the design and construction as a one man show in his workshop. The Koreans seem to be “a bit more well equipped”, also when it comes to money.

4. I’m curious to know, would the chair be able to replace a wheelchair, I mean, what according to you is the practical application of the invention? And how do you envision it?

Karl & Peugeot: As I have said above: it is an abstract animal, a statement. The walking-chair is a straight vision for the upcoming future of furniture: Meubles that become an individual character, a friend. They will be happy one day and will be ill one day... This chair even does not invite you to sit and ride on it.

We say & sing: »Please don’t sit on walking-chairs, do take seat on other seats…«

5. Please acquaint our readers with the internal (mechanical working) of the walking chair?

Karl & Peugeot: That is a secret. It can walk in any direction you want it to. So much can be said.

6. Your innovative concept has triggered a kind of ‘mechanical’ approach to product design, how far you agree with me?

Karl & Peugeot: That is charming, thanks.

This is certainly true if I interpret your statement this way: we have certainly always wanted to produce tools for people. To give people something into their hands that they can work with and that they complete themselves. Our product tooltime is a good and bold example for our philosophy.

7. What is innovation to you - design, technology or the creative processes itself?

Karl & Peugeot: I would say that innovation is the will to do, produce, or design something no-one has done before. ...a new way to solve a problem, a challenge, a situation, that no-one else might even have been aware of before.

8. What is next on your agenda? Any exciting projects?

Karl & Peugeot: We are always very interested in solving problems and producing smiles. Let’s see where we find the next opportunity. Today we are firstly trying hard to make the clients of our design studio happy.

We are also preparing exhibitions for our gallery and shows with our design things for museums or other spaces. Our third field is the products which we present and sell at walking-things. There we bring out new ideas regularly, so best subscribe to our newsletter on www.walking-things.com, hehe, to be in the picture.

9. Technologically as the world is moving ahead, we are experiencing the tinge of robotic invasion in our lives, what do you say?

Karl & Peugeot: We are at ease with technology and progress and are not stressed at all, if you mean that with respect: remember! before chairs started to walk, men have been walking on the moon.

10. Any partying words of wisdom, you’d like to leave for our readers?

Karl & Peugeot: We would like to give you words of wisdom when you come and visit Vienna. Stop by in our gallery for a coffee and a chat! That is an invitation! But if you really want put our philosophy and believe in a nutshell then let the people know our three little words: DESIGN FOLLOWS CONTENT!

11. Finally, we’d like to have your view on Gizmowatch.com?

Karl & Peugeot: I just bookmarked it before, which I hardly ever do…

Thank you to the both of you for this fantastic interview, I’m sure our readers might have enjoyed reading it too :) before signing off, I’d like to wish you guys luck for all your future endeavors, we are looking up for more rocking stuff coming outta your vault!