Sofas

Cosy, the centre of attention, subversive: sofas have many characters, and Molteni&C knows them all. The modern, elegant, designer sofas in our collections can instantly add character to, or complete, an interior, thanks to designers such as Ferruccio Laviani from Cremona, who loves classic, simple forms. For example, Hi-Bridge is a whole family of fixed and modular elements in which the cushions play an essential role: their arrangement redesigns the shape of the back rest in ways that are always new. The versatility of Hi-Bridge is shared by Freestyle, a modular system with high-capacity polyurethane foam padding of variable density. It is possible to choose between classic arm rests and ones with pillows, backrests of various sizes and a wide range of fabrics. To paraphrase an old advertisement, large spaces need a large sofa, and if it is modern and designer, all the better: the Large collection presents several of them, all with cushion-seats made from the latest generation of heat-sensitive and self-moulding foam. Remaining in Italy but at the same time moving to London, we meet the sofas by Rodolfo Dordoni. They are grouped into two large families, the first of which is Chelsea, made up of cosy sofas constructed from solid wood and featuring goose-down cushions. The collection has recently been enhanced with a sofa, an armchair and a bench designed to come together to create an area dedicated to conversation. The second is Camden, marked by the simplicity of its lines and backs of various heights. It is not only beautiful but also technologically advanced thanks to the foams of various densities. But at least one other name is associated with the sofa: that of Hannes Wettstein, who designed Reversi for Molteni&C, an incredibly versatile collection of padded and modular items (thanks to backrests that may be adjusted into three different configurations). Turner is also modular, while the Lido armchair and sofa are particularly distinctive thanks to their classic, soft forms with completely removable leather or fabric upholstery. Next, Studio Wettstein, directed by Stephan Hürlemann, a former Hannes associate, has produced Reversi '14 and Reversi XL, featuring wide armrests and high-technology padding. Sloane, the work of Molteni Design, is a modular concept of extremely dynamic seats, ideal for crating tailored domestic islands; conversely, creative director Vincent Van Duysen has created Paul, a family of modern yet reassuring, rational seats composed of linear, angular sofas, islands and chaise longues. Those in search of a single piece to play a central role would do well to choose Breeze by Matteo Nunziati, designed to eliminate any superfluous element; Oz by Nicola Gallizia, on the other hand, is a new style of sofa bed with completely removable upholstery and various seat depths. We now move on to Foster + Partners, whose Still is a series of linear sofas that can be combined with a "curvilinear" version designed to be placed at the centre (literally and metaphorically) of an interior. We conclude our journey with one designer sofa that won major international recognition: SKiN, by French designer Jean Nouvel, with a tubular steel structure and laser-cut leather upholstery, won the 2008 Red Dot Award Best of the Best, the ADI Index and the ELLE DECOR Design Award.