The Osier Lounge Chair stands as a testament to refined design, embodying an essence of lightness and grace that captivates at first glance. Its sleek, aerodynamic form evokes a sense of effortless elegance, inviting users to experience unparalleled relaxation and tranquility. Perfectly suited for various settings, this lounge chair seamlessly integrates into cozy garden ensembles, stylish terraces, and poolside retreats, enhancing the ambiance with its sophisticated charm.
The Lounge Chair is crafted to mesmerize with its unique design. The chair’s leg construction, reminiscent of intricately woven wicker, is not only visually appealing but also robust and reliable. This design element marries the allure of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, creating a piece that is both timeless and modern. The woven pattern of the legs adds an organic touch, evoking a sense of nature while maintaining a sleek industrial charm.
At the core of this lounge chair is a commitment to comfort. The chair’s ergonomic design supports the body in a way that encourages relaxation, making it an ideal addition to any space dedicated to leisure. Whether placed in a serene garden nook or a chic urban terrace, the chair adapts effortlessly, enhancing the surroundings with its versatile elegance. Its presence by the poolside creates an inviting spot for lounging, adding a touch of sophistication to outdoor living spaces.
Osier Lounge Chair’s design philosophy is rooted in the harmonious blend of industrial and natural elements. The sleek lines and contemporary form are complemented by the organic texture of the woven wicker legs, resulting in a piece that is both alluring and grounded. This combination allows the chair to exude a sense of tranquility while maintaining a modern edge, making it a perfect choice for those who appreciate both comfort and style.
Beyond its aesthetic allure, the chair is engineered for durability and stability. The intricate leg construction, though delicate in appearance, is built to provide steadfast support. This ensures that the chair is not only a beautiful addition to any space but also a practical one, capable of withstanding the rigors of regular use while maintaining its elegance and charm.
Imagine softness. Imagine boldness. Imagine playfulness. These words resonate deeply within the new Squash Collection, a daring collaboration with British designer Faye Toogood. This collection goes beyond traditional furniture; it explores form, comfort, and joy in design. The pieces invite you to sink into their plush cushions and relieve the day’s stresses. Each item, from armchairs to side tables, radiates a timeless, cutting-edge sense of whimsy and luxury. Beyond simply providing a place to sit, it’s about experiencing a piece of art that is also incredibly comfortable. These creations challenge you to rethink what furniture can be.
Designer: Faye Toogood + Poltrona Frau
An Unlikely Collaboration
When Poltrona Frau, a brand synonymous with Italian leather craftsmanship, met Faye Toogood, known for her unconventional design approach, the outcome was bound to be extraordinary. For over a century, this maker of luxurious leather goods has been crafting everything from high-end furniture to car interiors for Ferrari. Toogood, with her background in art history and editorial design, brought a fresh, sculptural perspective to the collaboration. Their partnership, while unexpected, highlights the incredible synergy of creative minds coming together.
Faye Toogood
Describing the collection as “English Folk with Italian Horsepower,” Toogood captures the essence of this partnership. Part of the 2024 Imagine Collection, the project encourages us to visualize our desires and shape our reality through creativity and design. This venture blends Toogood’s bold approach with Poltrona Frau’s tradition of exquisite craftsmanship, resulting in both functional and artistic pieces, merging the best of both worlds.
The Birth of Squash
During her visit to the factory in Tolentino, Italy, Toogood found inspiration in archival pieces from the 1970s and the iconic Vanity Fair chair from the 1930s. This exploration sparked the creation of the Squash armchair, a piece that honors the boldness of historic designs while venturing into new territories. Captivated by the surprising shapes and distinct designs, Toogood crafted a contemporary piece that respects historical roots while embracing contemporariness. The result is a voluptuous, inviting chair that beckons you to sink into its soft folds, seamlessly blending different eras and design philosophies.
The design captures a spontaneous, relaxed gesture, much like a pile of cushions casually arranged. This sense of spontaneity is a hallmark of Toogood’s design philosophy. The chair’s form is bold and gentle, creating an inviting and comforting presence in any space. The wrinkled leather adds a sense of movement and flexibility, enhancing comfort and softness.
Creating this piece meant digging deep into what comfort is and turning that idea into something you can feel. Toogood’s meticulous approach involved lots of experimentation with materials and forms. The result is a chair that is as much a piece of art as it is a functional object. This duality makes the armchair stand out, offering a unique blend of beauty and utility. The vibrant red leather, a nod to the brand’s archival colors, adds a striking visual element that draws the eye and makes a bold statement.
Exploring the Collection
The collection includes a matching ottoman, a side table, mirrors, and rugs alongside the armchair. Each piece reflects Toogood’s sculptural approach and the brand’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The collection, as a whole, embodies a playful yet sophisticated aesthetic, challenging traditional notions of luxury furniture.
The ottoman, designed to complement the armchair, shares the same inviting curves and plush upholstery. It is a standalone piece that enhances the armchair’s comfort and functionality. The ottoman’s design allows versatility, serving as both a footrest and an additional seat. Its soft, enveloping form encourages relaxation, making it an essential component of the collection.
Then there’s the side table, another intriguing piece. It plays with the idea of a soft cushion squashed between two harder blocks, creating a whimsical yet functional design. This playful approach challenges conventional notions of what a side table should look like. The table’s organic shape and cushioned appearance make it a unique addition to any living space, blending functionality with artistic expression.
Mirrors in the collection also reflect this blend of art and utility. The trio of leather-upholstered mirrors echoes the organic lines of the armchair, with smooth glass cushioned in tactile, curving frames. The largest mirror is full-length and can be free-standing or wall-mounted, while the medium mirror is designed for wall mounting, and the smallest mirror is a pocket-sized compact. The frames are upholstered in leather, in colors chosen by Toogood from the brand’s collection. This thoughtful choice of materials and colors adds depth and continuity to the collection, making each piece cohesive.
A Blend of Cultures and Traditions
The Squash Collection beautifully blends English Folk Art with Italian craftsmanship. Toogood’s inspiration from her English heritage is evident in the playful, sculptural forms and the use of hand-painted motifs. The checkerboard rugs, inspired by old English patchwork chairs, capture the rhythm and imperfections of a hand-drawn line. Each square is hand-painted and translated into textiles using the traditional Berber knotting technique making these rugs pieces of art that bring warmth and personality to a room.
The influence of the Italian leather tradition is equally strong, seen in the meticulous leatherwork and commitment to quality. The brand’s heritage of craftsmanship ensures that each piece in the Squash Collection is beautiful but also durable and functional. This collaboration highlights the best of both designers, merging Toogood’s eccentric vision with the brand’s timeless elegance. The result is a collection transcending cultural and artistic boundaries, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary luxury.
This blend of cultures is particularly evident in the mirrors, where Toogood incorporates early English leather folk work elements. The conversation between something hard (the glass) and something soft (the leather frames) creates a dynamic interplay of materials. This approach adds a tactile quality to the mirrors, making the reflective surfaces an interactive pieces of art.
The Atmus Mobile Desk by Clarus goes beyond aesthetics and mobility. It’s a multifunctional product designed to boost productivity in any design studio. Its versatility makes it ideal for brainstorming sessions, serving as an expansive whiteboard, or acting as a projection surface for presentations.
Designer: Clarus
In a brainstorming session, the Atmus Mobile Desk transforms into a collaborative hub. The large, clear glass surface doubles as a whiteboard, allowing designers and team members to sketch ideas, jot down notes, and map out concepts directly on the surface. This seamless transition from desk to brainstorming tool ensures the creative flow is never interrupted. The desk’s mobility means it can be positioned anywhere in the studio, whether you’re gathering for an impromptu meeting or setting up for a more structured session.
The Atmus Mobile Desk excels as a traditional whiteboard. Its smooth glass surface is perfect for use with dry-erase markers, offering a clean and erasable writing area. This is ideal for planning projects, outlining tasks, or illustrating complex ideas. The clarity of the glass ensures any writing or drawings are easily visible from a distance, making it an effective communication tool in a busy studio.
Additionally, the desk can be utilized as a projection wall, adding another layer of functionality. When paired with a projector, the Atmus Mobile Desk’s clear surface provides an excellent backdrop for displaying digital content. This is particularly useful during presentations, client meetings, or team reviews. The ability to move the desk effortlessly allows you to set up the projection screen wherever it is most needed, enhancing your workspace’s versatility.
Atmus Mobile Desk by Clarus
Clarus’ expertise in glass technology ensures the surface of the Atmus Mobile Desk is optimized for all these uses. The high-quality, ultra-clear Starphire glass offers a pristine and durable surface that stands up to the demands of a busy studio. Whether you are brainstorming, writing, or projecting, the glass maintains its clarity and functionality, providing a reliable tool for all your creative needs.
The foldable work surfaces add another layer of practicality. These can be extended to provide additional space for sketching, placing materials, or setting up laptops and projectors. This adaptability makes the Atmus Mobile Desk not just a piece of furniture but a central component of your design process.
Beyond brainstorming and presentations, the Atmus Mobile Desk is also valuable for digital photography. The clear glass surface provides a neutral, reflective backdrop that enhances the details of the subject being photographed. Whether you’re capturing product shots, prototypes, or artistic compositions, the desk’s smooth surface ensures every detail is highlighted, and its mobility allows you to adjust lighting and angles easily.
In addition to its core functionalities, the Atmus Mobile Desk supports various creative processes in a design studio. It can serve as a temporary station for rapid prototyping, offering ample space to lay out materials and tools. The desk’s height and stability make it suitable for detailed craftsmanship, allowing designers to work comfortably and efficiently.
The sturdy, smooth-rolling casters are designed to move effortlessly across different floor surfaces, whether it’s carpet, wood, or concrete. This means you can reposition the desk without any hassle, ensuring it is always where you need it, whether at the center of a brainstorming session or tucked away after a photo shoot.
Mental health is a global public health concern. Investigating the impact of our physical surroundings on our emotions, particularly through design, offers significant potential to enhance the quality of our spaces. Some aspects of interior design possess psychological impacts that are capable of influencing our mood and mental well-being. If you seek a home interior that promotes mental well-being, utilize these design tips to plan your space and get started.
Nature significantly impacts mental well-being, reducing stress, boosting memory, and fostering happiness and creativity. The biophilic design seamlessly integrates nature into interior spaces, promoting healing environments and human-nature connections, scientifically proven to enhance overall well-being by reducing stress and improving emotional wellness. Embrace nature indoors with greenery like potted plants, and succulents on floating shelves, and use the backyard for therapeutic gardening, maximizing outdoor views and sunlight for a deeper connection with nature.
John Mauriello’s Coral Lighting Collection is a fusion of art and technology, capturing the beauty of natural growth with intricate designs inspired by coral formations. Featuring Timor, Sargasso, and Celebes, each lamp reflects the unique aesthetics of different coral types. Crafted with precision using computational design algorithms, these lamps evoke a moment frozen in time, illuminating spaces with hauntingly beautiful patterns of light and shadow.
2. Use Natural Materials
Incorporating natural materials and textures like wood, stone, and plants in interior design evokes a connection to nature’s soothing rhythms, triggering relaxation by associating these elements with the outdoors.
Furniture takes up space, but it doesn’t always have to be idle. The KURVE collection utilizes minimalist wooden designs to maximize storage while maintaining simplicity. For example, the KURVE chair features a backless box for seating, the KURVE Couch has a central console and lower compartment, and the table and nightstand offer trapezoidal designs with storage spaces above and below.
Water’s presence significantly impacts mental health, with studies showing that individuals living near the oceans, especially with ocean views report better well-being. Our brains naturally respond positively to water, inducing calmness, enhancing creativity, and promoting mental healing.
Incorporating natural and tactile materials like wood and natural fibers in a space supports workplace mental well-being by encouraging direct engagement with touch, fostering mindfulness, and focusing attention on the present. Simple design choices, such as timber floorboards, natural stone, or exposed brickwork, can achieve this effect. For instance, when in use, this multi-sensory table introduces both scent and sound to your environment.
Many cultures consider mealtime a sacred ritual, often creating dedicated spaces for peaceful dining. Imagine enhancing this experience further with the Oasix: a table featuring a built-in planter and speaker, allowing you to enjoy music or ambient sounds while enjoying your coffee or meal. Perfect for creating a sensory oasis in any setting.
5. Color Psychology
Color psychology in interior design addresses mental well-being through the strategic use of warm and cool tones. Cool hues such as blue and green evoke calmness, while warm tones like red and orange infuse warmth and energy. Neutral tones and pastel colors combine to foster an uplifting yet tranquil atmosphere.
Minimalism has made many products, especially furniture, seem too plain, but there’s a counter-culture advocating for maximalism to address contemporary mental and emotional challenges. This new furniture collection demonstrates how ordinary objects can become room highlights through a clever mix of colors, materials, and shapes. The Differ Shelf and Opticabinet use contrast and illusion, while the Wrong Mirror offers a modern twist. Brustolin’s collection combines functionality with artistic expression in the home.
Untidy living environments can prompt the release of cortisol, a hormone associated with heightened stress levels, decreased happiness, and diminished productivity. Make sure your home is clutter-free with optimum utilization of space.
7. Reduce Noise
Sound significantly affects mood and stress levels. To reduce external noise, choose quieter areas and improve insulation. Opt for acoustic double-glazed uPVC windows for effective sound insulation. Use fabrics like tapestries, carpets, heavy curtains, and textured wall décor to minimize echo and absorb sound. Enhance relaxation by adding soothing indoor music and nature sounds like wind chimes.
The Foresta System by Italy-based Mogu features modular acoustic panels made from a blend of fungal mycelium and upcycled textile materials, offering durability and eco-friendliness. Integrated with wood branches and nodes and supported by a timber frame, these panels allow for easy installation and removal. Recognized for sustainability and innovation, its commitment to eco-conscious manufacturing, this collection effectively reduces noise in various environments, including home offices, by combining wooden aesthetics with the advanced properties of mycelium through cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.
8. Aromatherapy
The brain’s emotional center reacts to scent, which makes aromatherapy a powerful tool for boosting mood. Utilize diffusers to spread calming essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, woody scents, and eucalyptus throughout the air. Additionally, scatter soothing candles throughout the house and arrange fresh flowers for both visual and olfactory delight.
Enjoy your favorite scents guilt-free with this sustainable aroma diffuser, powered by a candle and free from batteries. The Lei aroma diffuser utilizes candle heat to generate electrical power for gentle scent dispersion, eliminating the need for battery changes or recharging. Crafted from recyclable materials, its sleek and minimalist design ensures eco-friendly relaxation anywhere, without the hassle of wires or complicated parts.
Evaluate room layouts and furniture placement to optimize comfort, reduce clutter, and promote easy movement. Designate separate areas for work, play, and rest mentally, keep furniture away from walls, utilize natural curves, consider minimal, multifunctional pieces, and prioritize ergonomic support for lounging and sitting spaces.
Chairs and beds are meant for comfort, yet not all chairs prioritize supreme comfort. The Nebula chair concept challenges conventional designs with cylindrical pillows for ergonomic support, offering various seating options from kneeling to reclining. Despite its unconventional appearance, it maximizes space efficiency and encourages movement, promoting a healthier approach to seating in evolving work environments.
Space is precious in our homes, driving the need for furniture with dual functions. Crossbred fills this niche with its cross-shaped design, serving as both a shelf and a low-side table. Crafted from wood, it offers versatile storage with five compartments and a flat surface for delicate items or beverages. Its dynamic yet understated design blends practicality with charm, making it perfect for modern living where flexibility is essential.
10. Soothing Lighting
Selecting the right lighting sets the relaxation tone; opt for incandescent bulbs for warmth, avoid harsh fluorescents, utilize dimmers, distribute lamp lighting, and adjust levels throughout the day for energizing mornings and restful evenings.
Rooms lacking sunlight often leave us feeling lethargic and unproductive, but the SUNROOF lighting system offers a solution by bringing the warmth and benefits of sunlight indoors. No longer must basements remain dull and gloomy, as this system enhances concentration, mood, and productivity, and reduces stress, transforming any space into a vibrant and inviting environment.
Inspired by sunflowers, sculptural wall lamps from the Aureole collection evoke an otherworldly aura using quartz sand and innovative 3D printing. When illuminated, they emit an ethereal glow, casting unique shadows reminiscent of a solar eclipse corona, making them a captivating addition to any space.
When looking for a chair, of course what you want is for something that you can sit on comfortably. Depending also on your budget or on your space, you probably don’t really care much about the design of it as long as it is able to perform its main function which is that you can sit on it. But there are some chairs that are not just functional. In fact, sitting on it may not be the only purpose of it but it becomes a piece of art, or in this case, even performance art.
Designer: Ahn Kihyun
The Halfway Serious chair will probably not make you comfortable and will even make you anxious if you’re that kind of person. But what it will definitely do is make the “mundane” act of sitting more interesting and more challenging. Aside from the actual seat, it uses a gimbal structure so you have to balance sitting on the chair so that the eggs placed on either end will not drop and become a yolky mess. Of course you don’t need to really put actual raw eggs but that defeats the purpose of the chair, which is to balance it out.
Designer Ahn Kihyun is known for his experimental designs for alternative furniture or “anti-furniture”. He believes that by adding elements to his pieces that give different experiences to the users, the act of using it can actually become a sort of performance art. For this particular piece, he made the egg container at either end of the gimbal look like an island. But with the addition of the chair in the middle, which looks like an ordinary bench on its own, you are able to tell a different story.
It would be interesting to sit on something like this although as a person with a balance problem, the eggs will probably not be long for this world. As its name suggests, Halfway Serious will not be an actual chair that you can sit on every day but something that belongs in a museum or a space meant to invite people to try it out and see if you can keep the eggs from cracking on the floor.
We’ve spent the past 4 years redeeming our careless mistakes of the past and living more consciously and sustainably. We cannot ignore the needs of our planet anymore, we need to consider the environment, and what better way to start doing that than from our own homes? Sustainable chairs and stools are taking the design industry by storm, they’re a step towards making our homes and our daily lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an attempt to cast aside toxic materials, and instead, add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot away on Earth for years once we’re done with them. We’ve curated a collection of furniture products created from cork, 3D printing, and even coffee-based waste! The options are endless, and the end result is the same – a greener, healthier, and happier Mother Earth!
1. Tie Stool
Called the Tie Stool, this lovely minimalist stool is crafted from three bent pieces of plywood that lock into one another effortlessly. It forms a unique tripod form, which is comfortable to sit on. The stool is quite simple and well-designed, crafted using minimal materials which makes the stool stand out.
Why is it noteworthy?
The stool consists of three plywood strips which are split into six parts. These six parts serve as individual parts that are built using high pressure, making the plywood bend and retain its shape. The parts interlock into one another creating a unique and captivating design.
What we like
Has a convenient stackable form
Can be flat-packed and shipped to customers with ease
What we dislike
Since it features a compressed design, it requires a tabletop to add more space to the stool
2. Tejo
Dubbed Tejo, this modular seating system by Paul Crofts is designed for the furniture brand Isomi. The seating collection is “reconfigurable, recyclable, and renewable” and it can be utilized as a bench, a single sofa, or even a double back-to-back sofa. Its modular nature makes it a great fit for modern homes.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Tejo collection is upholstered with natural wool, hemp, or flax – making it an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fabrics. The base is made using recycled cork which was salvaged from the production process of wine stoppers – making it a wholly sustainable furniture design.
What we like
The cork used to build Tejo is sustainably grown
Works well in different commercial spaces
What we dislike
It is a space-consuming design, not well-suited for smaller spaces
3. Drum Stool
Called the Drum Stool, this minimal and sustainable stool resembles a little wine cork when you first look at it. But as you dive in deeper, you realize the stool has quite a bit to offer. Made using cork and wood, the stool is pretty sturdy and also eco-friendly.
Why is it noteworthy?
Cork and wood were selected to build the wood, rating it pretty high on sustainability. The seat was built using cork, while wood was used to build the legs, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly seating solution, that will integrate well with modern contemporary homes.
What we like
Features a round trimmed surface which gives it a playful shape
Serves as a cohesive and sturdy furniture piece
What we dislike
The cork seat is trimmed and compact and doesn’t seem very comfortable to sit on for long hours
4. Hemp & Eelgrass Chair
These plant-based chairs by Norman Copenhagen and Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen were launched at Stockholm Design Week. This collection consists of two unique chairs – one is built from hemp, and one is built from a combination of hemp and eelgrass.
Why is it noteworthy?
Hemp is a kind of cannabis plant, and eelgrass resembles seaweed. The materials make for great alternatives to injection-molded plastic, and it results in the formation of a shell chair accentuated by powder-coated steel legs.
What we like
The material used is recyclable and is an innovative mix of two plants
What we dislike
Aesthetically the chair isn’t very pleasing and could be an eyesore in homes if not paired properly with the decor
5. Vis-à-vis and Rendez-vous
If you’re looking for sustainable seating solutions – why must you restrict that choice to your living room and bedroom only? Designed by Italian bathroom brand Agape, this seating collection for your bathroom is made from recycled cork. The pieces are comfy and also quite visually pleasing.
Why is it noteworthy?
The first seating design is called Vis-à-vis, and it is essentially a light and sturdy stool that functions as a tiny side table. The second seating solution is Rendez-vous and it is a bench that is intended to be an extensive seating option for bathroom users.
What we like
Built from recycled cork
Both pieces are quite sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing
What we dislike
They’re not great seating options for bathrooms with a smaller footprint
6. Ringos Chair
Called the Ringos Chair, this portable and transportable design is the perfect mix of functionality, convenience, and sustainability. The chair is made using recycled plastic. The designer transformed recycled plastic into a minimal and portable chair design, which is an excellent culmination of modern aesthetics and ergonomics.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Ringos Chair stores a foldable companion chair within its lightweight and compact form. You can pull out the removable chair, and you have another stable and sturdy seating option. There is a hidden locking system tucked away at the junction of the seats and legs.
What we like
Portable furniture design that can be easily moved around
An excellent option for digital nomads
What we dislike
It is currently a conceptual design, so we are unsure how well it will translate into a tangible product
7. OTO Chair
Dubbed the OTO Chair, this unique chair is designed to be a “manifesto for circular design”. Created by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia, it is a recycled plastic chair which is focused on full sustainability, in both material choices and the supple chain, as a complete whole.
Why is it noteworthy?
The OTO chair features a minimal and clean form, and it is available in a bunch of fun colors – onyx, fog, mustard, coral, forest, and eucalyptus. You can pick the color the perfectly suits your personality and interior decor style.
What we like
The production of each OTO chair removes almost 500 grams of plastic from the sea
What we dislike
Its hard, flat surfaces look a little too rigid for comfort, doesn’t seem comfy for long periods of sitting
8. Bend Chair
The Bend Chair is designed by the Thai design brand Waste is More. Crafted using coffee-based waste, recycled plastic, and wood, the Bend Chair looks like it is made from chocolate! The chair is minimalist and simple and made using More’s signature PlasCoff materials.
Why is it noteworthy?
The material is created by merging recycled plastic with waste from coffee bean processing. It is a sustainable design, and what makes it even more unique is that the deeper the shade is, the higher the content of coffee waste in the chair.
What we like
Constructed using a locally sourced rubber tree timber and coffee-based waste
It is the ultimate mix of ergonomics, sustainability, functionality and good looks
What we dislike
Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and simple but could have been worked upon
9. Stump Recycled Stool
Designed by Derlot, the Stump Recycled stool is made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE. Visually the stool is quite colorful and exciting it looks at, and the fact that it is sustainable, simply adds more brownie points. It maintains the same structure as the original Stump stool.
Why is it noteworthy?
The new and revamped version of the recycled Stump stool has a terrazzo-like design which imparts the furniture piece with a colored and cool look. It has a kaleidoscope-like finish, which shows us how recycled materials can be used in new and refreshing ways.
What we like
Offers a new and fresh take on how recycled materials can be utilized
What we dislike
The stool is quite small and doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long
10. Fuld
Dubbed Fuld, this nesting chair by Herman Miller is a unique furniture design with a sustainable personality. It is designed to reconfigure your workspace in an efficient manner, without reducing the focus on sleekness, style, and minimalism – traits that are typical to all Herman Miller designs.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Fuld has a revolutionary one-piece construction defined by an inverted Y shape, which ensures that water wastage is reduced during the production process. The back is elastic, allowing you to sit comfortably for hours on end.
What we like
Crafted from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content
What we dislike
There isn’t much head support if you’re quite tall, so not a very inclusive design
Legendary Italian design house Pininfarina, famed for its historic decades-long collaboration with Ferrari, has unveiled its debut piece of collectible furniture – the Oksýs chaise longue. This unique creation seamlessly blends the company’s automotive design heritage with the functionality of a high-end chaise lounge. The Oksýs is a limited-edition statement piece designed to complement Pininfarina’s recent foray into branded residential projects. The chaise longue embodies the studio’s core design principles, which center on the harmonious marriage of aesthetics and technical innovation.
The Oksýs is a striking visual interplay of contrasting elements. The upper section features smooth, ergonomic lines reminiscent of a Pininfarina sports car. This section is crafted for comfort and boasts a reflective finish that invites touch. In stark contrast, the lower portion resembles a rough, crystal-like rock, creating a sense of groundedness.
“Seen from above, Oksýs is smooth and reflects light with no aggressive angles,” explains Marco Becucci, the in-house architect who designed the chaise longue. “This upper part invites the user to touch it, while the lower section offers a textural counterpoint, left coarse and milled to resemble an untouched rock.”
The design and development process for the Oksýs mirrored Pininfarina’s approach to creating high-performance automobiles. The project began with sketches, followed by ergonomic testing, computer-aided modeling, and finally, the creation of physical models using CNC milling to achieve the complex form.
The prototype showcased at Milan Design Week was crafted from polyurethane and finished with a gleaming epoxy resin, creating a captivating metallic effect. Pininfarina envisions future iterations cast entirely in steel or aluminum, further solidifying the connection to its automotive roots. Only three Oksýs chaise longues will be produced, each sold exclusively through the Rossana Orlandi gallery.
Designed by Paul Crofts, this modular seating system is called Tejo. Crofts designed the Tejo seating collection for the furniture brand Isomi. It is intended to be a “reconfigurable, recyclable, and renewable” modular seating collection that serves as a bench, a single sofa, or even a double back-to-back sofa.
The Tejo seat includes curving components that have been filled with natural latex instead of foam. The furniture design is upholstered with natural wool, hemp, or flax instead of synthetic fabrics. It is equipped with a base made from recycled cork which has been salvaged from the production process of wine stoppers. This unique base was created instead of a traditional plywood frame.
“Grown in responsibly managed forests in the Portuguese region of Alentejo – which gives the sofa its name – cork is ideal for use in seating as it is not only soft, tactile, and visually beautiful, but it also regenerates naturally,” said Isomi.
The cork utilized for the Tejo seating solution is sustainably grown, and also a sustainable material option in itself. It ventures into the utilization of cork as a material of choice, while creating a furniture design that has a complementing and soft aesthetic value to it. The Tejo modular furniture design is available in a wide range of colors, and it has been created to work well in different commercial spaces – ranging from retail settings to workplaces and even restaurants.
The Tejo seat can be integrated with different additional elements such as screen dividers, table units, planets, power outlets, and charging ports to create a personalized and customized furniture design. You can add the components that work well for you and your lifestyle, in turn creating a seating system that meets your multiple needs – whether they’re home-oriented or for work. The elegant and refined aesthetics of the seating design allow it to artfully merge with most spaces, giving it a much-appreciated versatility.
Humanity has always had a fascination with the heavens, including the possibility of other intelligent life out there in the stars. Of course, there is no definite proof yet, but there is definitely no shortage of reports claiming to have seen UFOs or unidentified flying objects. Popular media have made the flying saucer the most iconic form of UFO, even though there’s probably no logical reason why they’d take that shape. Nonetheless, that form has inspired many an Earthly design, including this distinctive chair that looks like a lopsided UFO from afar and a majestic, almost futuristic throne up close.
A rocking chair more often than not conjures up images of an antiquated wooden chair with arcs for legs that make it swing back and forth. Even among chairs, this design is already peculiar, mostly because it is far from the stable and unmoving concept that most people have for seating furniture, and this UFO-inspired treatment takes it to the next level, going beyond the stars, figuratively speaking. Beyond the initial shock factor, however, the design carries an air of class that will actually surprise you when you sit on it for the first time and discover, to your delight, that it can actually rock back and forth or even spin on its bottom.
The bowl-shaped exterior of this unusual rocking chair isn’t exactly a perfect curve, which allows the form to move without tipping over. Viewed from the side, it looks like a UFO that is either in sharp descent or has already crashed on the ground, denting its front and causing the rear to stick up and out. Made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, the structure of the chair is as strong as you’d expect from a spacecraft, or at least a piece of furniture inspired by one.
Viewed from the front, however, the chair looks less alien and more regal, almost like a throne from some futuristic civilization. There are no formal armrests for the chair, but the inner seat foam’s shape and material easily adapt to the body of the person, giving proper and comfortable support all the time. The radiating design of the seat puts the person right in the middle and emphasizes their presence, making them the visual center of the composition. Italian primofiore leather or fine fabrics are used for the upholstery, giving the chair a luxurious appearance and texture truly fit for monarchs or alien overlords.
Rather than simply sticking to the stereotypical appearance of a UFO, which would have meant glossy metal textures and colors, this UFO rocking chair opens the possibility of a wide number of designs, turning the shell of the chair into a canvas for display art, characters, or even the nighttime sky. Whether you associate it with a flying saucer or not, this Unidentified Furniture Object will surely capture anyone’s attention with its otherworldly beauty and give them the experience of their lives, sitting on a majestic chair that moves as if it were floating on air.
Humanity has always had a fascination with the heavens, including the possibility of other intelligent life out there in the stars. Of course, there is no definite proof yet, but there is definitely no shortage of reports claiming to have seen UFOs or unidentified flying objects. Popular media have made the flying saucer the most iconic form of UFO, even though there’s probably no logical reason why they’d take that shape. Nonetheless, that form has inspired many an Earthly design, including this distinctive chair that looks like a lopsided UFO from afar and a majestic, almost futuristic throne up close.
A rocking chair more often than not conjures up images of an antiquated wooden chair with arcs for legs that make it swing back and forth. Even among chairs, this design is already peculiar, mostly because it is far from the stable and unmoving concept that most people have for seating furniture, and this UFO-inspired treatment takes it to the next level, going beyond the stars, figuratively speaking. Beyond the initial shock factor, however, the design carries an air of class that will actually surprise you when you sit on it for the first time and discover, to your delight, that it can actually rock back and forth or even spin on its bottom.
The bowl-shaped exterior of this unusual rocking chair isn’t exactly a perfect curve, which allows the form to move without tipping over. Viewed from the side, it looks like a UFO that is either in sharp descent or has already crashed on the ground, denting its front and causing the rear to stick up and out. Made from fiberglass or carbon fiber, the structure of the chair is as strong as you’d expect from a spacecraft, or at least a piece of furniture inspired by one.
Viewed from the front, however, the chair looks less alien and more regal, almost like a throne from some futuristic civilization. There are no formal armrests for the chair, but the inner seat foam’s shape and material easily adapt to the body of the person, giving proper and comfortable support all the time. The radiating design of the seat puts the person right in the middle and emphasizes their presence, making them the visual center of the composition. Italian primofiore leather or fine fabrics are used for the upholstery, giving the chair a luxurious appearance and texture truly fit for monarchs or alien overlords.
Rather than simply sticking to the stereotypical appearance of a UFO, which would have meant glossy metal textures and colors, this UFO rocking chair opens the possibility of a wide number of designs, turning the shell of the chair into a canvas for display art, characters, or even the nighttime sky. Whether you associate it with a flying saucer or not, this Unidentified Furniture Object will surely capture anyone’s attention with its otherworldly beauty and give them the experience of their lives, sitting on a majestic chair that moves as if it were floating on air.
