Italy’s main commercial center, Milan, nestles at the foot of the Alps, the towering mountains that have captured the imagination of Europeans for millennia. For the Roman Empire, this snowy barrier was an obstacle to overcome in its quest to conquer the rest of the continent. For the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, the dramatic landscape—peaks and valleys—represented the high and low extremes of creative endeavor. For the German philosopher Fredrich Nietzsche, wandering in these environments was where and when one truly finds wisdom.
For Swiss-born designer Yves Béhar—founder of award-winning practices in San Francisco and Lisbon Insurance project— this framework forms the basis of many childhood memories.
Essentially reimagining a “living landscape” as Vernor Panton and Pierre Paulin did in the late 20th century, he developed the ever-inventive Peaks modular seating system Moooo. Consisting of interchangeable, component kits of extruded equilateral triangles, the fresh solution distills the formal analysis of the peaks and valleys of the Alps. The slanted shape lends itself to the ergonomics of leaning back, however, when combined, it can also become a compact plane.
Released during the Dutch furniture brand’s 25th anniversary at Milan Design Week (April 20 to 26), the design prioritizes quick adaptability. more favorable to the changing conditions of domestic interiors. In an era of virtual burnout, the chat pit typology has regained popularity.
“I feel that living room furniture forces us into very specific formal interactions and we lack adaptability and wonder,” says Béhar. “Peaks was a personal experiment in my home to find a central piece of furniture that immediately evokes a sense of ‘play’ for adults and children alike. Immediately after installing Peaks, laughter and closeness made my living room the center of the home again and again.”
The components are produced using dual density foam that ensures comfort as well as structural integrity. Concealed zippers and fabric hinges keep the system organized yet easy to reconfigure. The proposal transforms living room furniture from its static, interactively limited state to one that can more fluidly facilitate solitary and shared use.
To learn more and purchase the edition, visit moooi.com.
Photo courtesy of Moooi.
