Known for holding the reproduction rights to many Eileen Gray raft, ClassiCon it is just that: classic and contemporary. The boutique producer prides itself on preserving and ensuring the relevance of iconic works from the past. It’s also slowly but surely introducing new meticulously refined products that are positioned to also become distinctive icons over time. In this year’s Salone del Mobile. Milanthe producer from Munich debuted the new Soft Stone Sofa Singaporean designer based in Porto Gabriel Tana new stacked stone seating concept five years in the making.
Although somewhat expressive in its composition, the nascent design is distilled from the purity of physical form. an unexpected source of inspiration: the stacked patio stones often found in old parks. In this case, it is the sprawling Parque da Cidade, in the positive Porto of Tan. These elements may have originally been implemented to hold back undulating land and frame squares with flat ground, but they are almost always used as makeshift benches.
“I went to the park a lot during the pandemic and basically used it as my office, sitting on the interlocking stones and sketching out new ideas,” says Tan. “I wanted to develop a modular sofa and I realized I was sitting on one. The idea was just beneath me. I just had to figure out how to make it ergonomic, logical and rational.” The hard yet somewhat soft sculptures of the Japanese American polymath Isamu Noguchi became another important source of inspiration in this regard.
The Soft Stone sofa is both a study of aesthetics and functionality. The latter is achieved, beneath the surface, through subtle variations in its tapestry. The strategic interplay of Nosag springs and memory foam ensures that there is stability where needed and more of a “sink” feel elsewhere. The extra high seat is stiffer towards the front so users can stand up easily. The radius of its curved edges was carefully determined. In order not to bury the lead of the main reference of the design, the seam lines were removed. “It enhances the portability of the monolithic stone,” adds Tan. The accompanying head and back pillows—which offer additional support—represent different human proportions.
Choice is another key feature. Customers can mix and match 11 asymmetrical seat, back and arm modules. “They can even choose to have the different elements wrapped in different fabrics and colors,” describes Tan. “The profile of the sofa can look completely different from the left and right perspectives”, The subtle curvature of each element, as well as hidden Velcro strips hold everything together. A custom configuration can be added over time, which, along with its build quality, accounts for the product’s longevity. Soft Stone will perhaps have the same influence as Gray’s Bibendum chair overtime. The classic design was reissued this year to commemorate its 100th anniversary.
To learn more, visit classicon.com.
Photo by Inês Silva Sá.
