Dwell

At Home in the Modern World

Conversation »

From ICFF: Designer Philippe Nigro

We love a good looking sofa here at Dwell, and can definitely appreciate the look of something a little bit outside-the-boxy form of the classic settee. Confluences made its worldwide debut at Salone last month (check it out in this month’s issue of Dwell!), and French-born, Milan-based designer Philippe Nigro took his first ever trip to the states to introduce his sofa to the US market. I caught up with him at the Ligne Roset showroom on Park Avenue in New York.

  • Published on: 05/18/2009
nigro philippe portrait square

This is quite a unique design for a sofa; tell me a little more about it.

It’s a system. You can have one armchair for two or three people, or you can add another module for four or five people. The varying depths and height of the back are designed to provide more comfort for everyone’s different morphologies, whether they’re taller or smaller.

How long was the process from start to finish?

I presented the first prototype one year ago. It was called Intersection, because it was using the idea of the connection of colors. Ligne Roset liked it, so in one year, we made it. And it was a nice experience, working with the company. It takes a lot to make this kind of project, which is not very simple to produce because it’s not perfectly straight, and they have the power to do it.

confluencessofalignerosetusa.jpg

So the different colors were as important to this piece as the form?

Yes, since the beginning. We choose 27 different colors. So you can have blue, like this one, or green or yellow….

The prototype looks remarkably similar to the final product.

There was very little change: We simplified the fabrication and worked on cost. It was a good evolution for that prototype.

How long do you have in New York?

I’ll be here through next week. I think in eight days, I will not see everything, but I want to see as much as I can.

Advertising
Advertising
Subscribe Today

Don't Miss a Word of Dwell

$19.95 10 Issues / a Year

Dwell Cover