Broken Chair

Broken Chair is a wooden sculpture at Place des Nations in Geneva, rising 12 meters tall and weighing roughly 5.5 tonnes. The work displays three complete legs while the fourth appears severed, taking the form of an oversized piece of furniture.

Daniel Berset created the work in 1997 while groups pushed for completion of the Ottawa Treaty, which called for a global ban on antipersonnel landmines. The chair stayed in place after the treaty was signed, serving as a visible reminder of international agreements against these weapons.

The sculpture takes its name from a deliberate detail pointing to people injured by mines who depend on assistance. Today the chair forms part of daily life around the square, with passersby seeing it as a steady presence between the buildings of international organizations and using the forecourt for meetings or breaks.

The square in front of the work is reachable by tram and bus, laid out flat all around so orientation is easy. The sculpture stands in the open and remains visible at all hours, with the open space providing enough distance for photos.

The construction uses wood rather than metal, which is unusual for a work this size and requires regular maintenance to withstand wind and rain. The team around Berset assembled the sculpture so it remains stable over time despite the material, distributing its weight of 5.5 tonnes evenly.

Location: Geneva

Inception: August 18, 1997

Creator: Daniel Berset

Height: 12 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Made from material: wood, tree

Address: 1202 Geneva, Switzerland

Website: https://handicap-international.ch/en/broken-chair

GPS coordinates: 46.22280,6.13886

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:24