Photos by Samuel Lehuede

The harshest criticism that I would level against designer Trust in Design's minimalist "Tulp" chair for ZwillinG is that it comes across as a bit cold and sterile. It turns out that this is the point:The Tulp Chair draws its inspiration from the design of medical furniture used to perform autopsies. It mimics the dual functionality of autopsy equipment, by providing users with both a high chair position and a standard chair position. Embracing a most minimal design approach, the Tulp Chair's frame is composed of only inox tubing similar to that of austere medical equipment.

Inox, of course, is a French term for stainless steel, and while the material alludes to medical settings, it also happens to make for sleek, durable furniture—in fact, we've seen that the alloy can symbolize immortality for its anti-corrosive properties. So too are the clean lines of Joran Briand's design more suited to a modern loft space than a mortuary.

In any case, it might make a perfect complement to Sebastian Errazuriz's "Autopsy Desk."