Designed in 1982 by Peter Shire, the Bel Air's asymmetrical silhouette and use of contrasting colours have made it one of the most recognisable pieces from the Memphis collection. The chair’s asymmetrical back is based partly on shark fins and partly on the Stevens House by architect John Lautner, located on the beach in Malibu. The title ‘Bel Air’, like other early Memphis furniture-titles, was taken from the name of a luxury hotel, in this case a five-star hotel in Beverly Hills, CA.