The revolution of soft forms

Camaleonda by Mario Bellini

We are talking about sofas, armchairs, chaise lounges and divans. Quite simply, seating furniture that is so much more than just a piece of furniture and that makes a statement, regardless of location.

We are sitting down, or maybe even half lying down, in ground-level creations. Made for conversation, for socialising or for long hours in front of a Netflix series with no end in sight. One could speculate why we have such a penchant for soft forms right now. Maybe it's because we've been longing for really comfortable furniture during a period when we've also had extra time to spend in it. Maybe it's because the soft and organic design language feels friendly and welcoming, and even gives us a sense of security. Or that it reminds us of airport lounges at some distant destination, or that lobby on the ground floor of our favourite hotel. Places we long for and places we miss.

The shapes make it almost impossible not to think of scenes from films like Shaft, Jackie Brown or even James Bond from the 1970s.

Whatever the reason, it's clear that this is how we want to decorate our homes right now, and we're not alone. IT people all over the world are testifying to this, and sharing their newfound passion on social media.

The shapes make it almost impossible not to think of scenes from films like Shaft, Jackie Brown or even James Bond from the 1970s. And indeed, one of the most influential examples is from 1970. That was when Mario Bellini designed the Camaleonda sofa for B&B Italia. A piece of furniture that is completely unique in its design and that makes it possible to assemble the modules completely according to your wishes and room, from a solitary one-seater armchair and into infinity.

The Camaleonda was only produced for a few years there in the early 1970s and has since been a sought-after item at auctions. But just in time for its 50th anniversary in 2020, it was put back into production. And the return was met with open arms, standing ovations and, as mentioned, a high presence on Instagram.

But Camaleondan is far from alone in its genre of softly designed seating, Togo is another great example. It too saw the light of day in the early 1970s when Michael Ducaroy designed it for French Ligne Roset. Ducaroy was born in 1925 into a family of designers and furniture makers. As early as the mid-1950s, he came into contact with Ligne Roset, where he quickly became a key player. But it was in 1973 at the Salon des Arts Ménagers in Paris that Togo was shown for the first time. With its quilted surface, the furniture has its own unique look and comes in many different designs that can be combined into shapes that suit the specific room.

Some of the most interesting architects and designers of postmodernism are the married couple Afra and Tobia Scarpa. The Soriana series was designed for Italy's Cassina and the very first armchair won the Compassod'Oro award. Delightfully bulky, soft and welcoming, Soriana's design means that the soft furniture is held together by metal cables that run around the body itself. The same wires also create a drape on the back that makes the upholstery billow like a theatre curtain. Both beautiful and dramatic.

Yes, our homes are swanky, bohemian and decadent at the same time. It's also minimalism and maximalism in a kind of cross-fertilisation. And it's definitely furniture that calls out to you, invites you in and asks you to sit down, lean back. So why not do exactly that.

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