Seat success
Is there any other piece of living room furniture that has proved its worth more than the sofa? The linchpin of the living room, the sofa is where we retreat to when we want to unwind. That makes comfort a prerequisite. Why suffer in the name of style? Why indeed, ask Norwegian design duo Anderssen & Voll, who describe their Compose sofa for Muuto as a “sculptural study” in how to compose a “commodious yet sophisticated” sofa using the simplest of elements: seat, back and armrests. Their solution? “We added extra depth to the seat while maintaining a pure and elegant overall look, allowing Compose to induce everyday bliss.”
Of course, comfort is not limited to sofas. Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou, the founders of Space Copenhagen, designed the Fly lounge chair for &Tradtion with “ultimate comfort” in mind (cue loose cushions that you can arrange to suit your personal preferences). Fly looks good, too, paying tribute to a Nordic aesthetic with its slatted back, handcrafted solid oak frame and organic shape.
“We like the idea that comfort comes first,” says &tradition brand manager Martin Kornbek Hansen. “The Fly chair is a modern design that encompasses classic woodworking techniques, drawing on the beauty of natural materials, [and is] destined to age gracefully over time.”
Philippe Starck agrees that comfort is crucial; life-changing even. Of his Cinemascope armchair for Driade, the French designer says: “If all presidents and kings in the world had an exceptionally comfortable armchair like Cinemascope, can you imagine how their ideas, conversations and decisions would change? Cinemascope is the armchair that can save the world.”
Starck and Space Copenhagen are not the only designers to focus on comfort. Piero Lissoni has launched an armchair version of his popular Dumas sofa for Living Divani. Inviting you to linger for longer, the low backrest with its soft cushion is connected to a gently curved armrest in a gesture of simplicity that epitomises the style of the designer.