PROSTORIA RENEWS THE MODERNIST ARCHIVE OF WIENDSLAW RICHTER
Croatian brand Prostoria unveils a long-term cultural initiative that gives life to the archival dreams of architect Vjenceslav Richter. First debut in Salone del Mobile 2026 and then at the brand’s Chicago flagship store during NeoCon’s US premierethe “Richter Repeat” The collection serves as a bridge between the golden age of Croatian modernism and the contemporary landscape. Rather than a static reproduction, the project works as a dialogue through design, evolving archival concepts into furniture carefully adapted for contemporary living.
A widely respected figure whose significant influence on European modernism has been largely overlooked, Vjenceslav Richter (1917-2002) devoted his career to public pavilions and urban projects that defined Croatia’s modernist identity. This new collection, comprising 20 pieces across five series, marks the first time his unrealized prototypes, sketches and unfinished thinking have been transformed into fully realized productions. By revisiting these archival dreams, Prostoria continues the work of a modernist master, allowing visionary ideas to flow from design to the contemporary home.
Richter Collection 2026 in the South Salon at Villa Zagorje | all images courtesy of Prostoria
RICHTER’S WORK EXPLORES ARCHITECTURE, ART AND THEORY
Vjenceslav Richter (1917-2002) was a prominent Croatian architect, artist and theorist whose interdisciplinary approach defined an important chapter of post-war modernism. As a founding member of the pioneering group EXAT 51, he championed the composition of the visual arts, placing regional practice in a global modernist context. His visionary career was marked by high-profile projects for the Yugoslav Pavilion at Expo 58 in Brussels, as well as contributions to the Milan Triennale, the Venice Biennale and the Guggenheim in New York.
Richter’s philosophy was rooted in a systems-based approach that blurred the boundaries between urbanization and the objects within it, treating space as a single, experiential system. Despite his international recognition and influence on the New Tendencies movement, many of his furniture designs never progressed beyond the prototype stage.
DIALOGUE THROUGH DESIGN FROM FILE TO PRODUCTION
Acting as researchers, archivists and engineers, Prostoria’s design team has drawn on Richter’s geometry and systems-based approach as guiding principles to evolve his early sketches into fully realized productions. Instead of simply reproducing historical pieces, the brand has worked to reinterpret the designs for contemporary use, a process that has included improving proportions, improving ergonomics and adapting construction methods, meticulously preserving the inner logic of the original works.
A key example of this development is the VR61 chair, which was originally designed for the 1961 Italia exhibition in Turin. The revamped design maintains its sculptural symmetry, introducing new structural solutions and improved comfort, resulting in a piece that remains true to Richter’s vision while meeting the demands of modern life.
VR51 Chair by Vjenceslav Richter, 1951
This research-driven process is rooted in Prostoria’s unique position as a design firm, where R&D, engineering and manufacturing are integrated under one roof at its Croatian factory. This integrated approach allows ideas to be tested, adapted and used in a continuous development space. By bringing Richter’s work into production, the brand acts as an ambassador for Croatia’s modernist heritage, ensuring that Richter’s visionary ideas continue to live on and evolve in a global design context.
VR58 Chair, by richter+, 2026
VR53 Easy Chair, by Vjenceslav Richter, 1953; VR53 Easy chair with arms, by richter+, 2026; and VR53 Low table, from richter+, 2026
VR61 Easy Chair, by Vjenceslav Richter, 1961; VR61 Table, by richter+, 2026; and VR61 Low Table, by richter+, 2026
