10 Iconic sofas
DS.WRITER:
Vasilis Xifaras
Central Image: Mario Bellini Architects, B&B Italia
A sofa is more than a functional furniture piece, it is one of the key “ingredients” that make up a space, whether it is private or public. It is a system supporting many functions and with each design approach, it can promote individuality or togetherness, comfort or the creation of an impressive atmosphere. Today, we chose to present some of our favourite 20th-century designs that left their mark in history.
Diwan (Divan) – Franz West, 1991
Through numerous unconventional sculptural pieces, collages and furniture, Franz West tested the limits of each object and its interaction with the user. His creations focus, in addition to aesthetics, on the sense of touch but also functionality or rather the way in which something is made functional. The "Diwan" sofa consists of a thin steel frame and linen fabrics, which when stretched appear to have been solidified, evoking West's earlier works of art made of paper mâché or plaster.
Photo by: David Zwirner gallery
Day Bed - Eileen Gray, 1925
In a male-dominated world (even in design), the talent of the Irish designer and architect Eileen Gray only became known after her death in 1976. Now, many of the furniture she designed are auctioned for millions of euros. One of her most famous creations is the E1027 residence, a classic example of modern architecture envied (and vandalized) by Le Corbusier. She designed all the furniture for the interior herself, among them the "Day Bed" sofa, made so that the user can direct their look wherever they wish, combining relaxation and sleep.
Photo by: Eileen Gray, Architonic
DS–1025 – Ubald Klug for De Sede, 1973
Ubald Klug was a Swiss interior designer and architect educated at the Kunstgewerbeschule. During his career, he was close to sculptors, architects and artists, which was reflected in the furniture, textiles, ceramics and glass objects he created. The "DS–1025" sofa, also known as the "Terrazza Sofa", draws inspiration from the terraces created on mountain slopes. The typology of the design is such that it allows the formation of different compositions by combining each unit of the sofa. Its construction is a typical example of Swiss craftsmanship at the end of the 20th century, while each piece consists of high-quality leather in different colours.
Photo by: De Sede
Corbi Modular Seating System – Klaus Uredat for COR, 1969
With obvious references to sculpture, this seating system is structured by two main objects, which can either coexist or stand in space independently. Through different combinations, they can "build" a sofa, a bed or three separate seats. The minimal geometry, highlighted by the light colour of the fabric, enhances the soft texture of the "Corbi" and the overall sense of comfort. This seating system was produced on a small scale between 1972 and 1974 so whoever owns it is very lucky!
Photo by: Vintage Design Marketplace
Dromedaire Sectional Sofa – Hanz Hopfer for Roche Babois, 1974
One of the most popular seating designs, "Mah Jong" (1971), went down in history because it "broke" the rules, providing a seat with strict symmetry and heavy volumes. Its creator, Hanz Hopfer, treated seating furniture as constantly transforming landscapes. The latter phrase fully describes the "Dromedaire" corner sofa, which has a back that fluctuates in height. It is a sofa unit that can be broken down into smaller pieces and arranged into a "hug", a particularly spacious living room covered with woollen surfaces.
Photo by: 1stdibs.com
Soriana Sofa – Afra and Tobia Scarpa for Cassina, 1969
Architect couple Afra and Tobia Scarpa excelled in the field of industrial design in Italy, with an emphasis on the expertise and aesthetics of the materials they used and obvious influences from Tobia's father, Carlo Scarpa. The "Soriana" sofa emerged from the designers' first experiments with polyurethane foam, creating an unconventional sofa for its time that emphasises relaxation and comfort. Characterized by its soft curves, the sofa relies on a visible wire grid to keep the seat cushions in place, an element that refers to the so-called truth to materials, a tenet of modernist architecture.
Photo by: Cassina
Serpentine Sofa – Vladimir Kagan for Directional, 1950
Modern furniture designer Vladimir Kagan quickly became a favourite among the young residents of American cities due to the dynamism, asymmetry and comfort of his designs. He believed in the saying "form follows function" and abhorred mass production. While the "Serpentine" sofa was one of his first creations, its success established Kagan as an important name in the world of design. This is a creation that broke the norms of seating design: without orthonormal shapes, the organic sofa in the shape of an "S" moves away from the wall and is placed in the centre of a space. So people can come close to each other and admire the works of art surrounding them.
Photo by: Vladimir Kagan
Togo – Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset, 1973
It is one of the most successful designs in the history of furniture, and its inspiration came from something very simple: an aluminium tube of toothpaste. Michel Ducaroy, educated at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, launched dozens of home furniture in the 1960s and 1970s, with the spread of new materials, including plastics and foams. The "Togo" lounge has an ergonomic design with a curved shape and a soft internal structure, offering moments of carefree relaxation. It is a coveted design object, with many imitations circulating on a global scale.
Photo by: Ligne Roset
DS–600 - Ueli Berger, Eleonore Peduzzi Riva, Heinz Ulrich, Klaus Vogt for De Sede, 1972
This is another sofa made up of individual units, which can create different compositions with each different arrangement. Consequently, the “DS-600” sofa has become known also as the “endless sofa”, while its shape (reminiscent of a snake) is a reference to the Tatzelwurm, a mythical creature of the Alps. Each leather-lined element can be joined to the next via a zipper mechanism. It’s a model for modular design that proved to be very influential for modern architects and designers.
Photo by: De Sede
Camaleonda – Mario Bellini, 1970
Mario Bellini, Italian architect and designer of objects, furniture and exhibitions, has collaborated with major companies, implementing successful designs that respond to the technology of each era. Such a piece of furniture, the "Chameleon" sofa, adapts to any space, with the infinite possibilities it offers through its modular system. The "inflatable" seat is made of polyurethane and the timeless capitonné pattern has been chosen for the external part, while a system of cables and hooks allows the connection to other units as well as to the components that serve as an arm or back of the sofa.
