Moroso presents an ensemble featuring Kvadrat at Salone 2022

Unveiling new collaborations that will take stage at the Salone del Mobile 2022, Italian brand Moroso is set to feature the Square upholstered seating made to design by American industrial designer Jonathan Olivares for the new Kvadrat showroom in New York alongside Pebble Rubble, a seating conceived as a sensory experience by the Swedish design duo Sofia Lagerkvist and Anna Lindgren of Front Design. The design is an illusion that lures us and captivates us, altering our perception of time, alongside our frenetic daily routine, nature’s slow and boundless rhythm. "The Square armchair derives its formal language from the basic square unit that constitutes the warp and weft of a fabric. Enlarged and abstract, the shape represents the fabric used to make it: the seat is square at the micro and macro level. Because textiles are among the most flexible products, the armchair is also conceived as an adaptable object," says Jonathan Olivares.

Imagine we find ourselves upon a massive, mysterious slab of stone. As if, in a time long before our own, someone gifted with superhuman strength lifted and positioned it, creating a megalithic seat. Let’s imagine that all this occurs in an unexpected location – in the entrance of a bank, the lounge of a hotel or in the halls of a library. Lastly, let’s imagine that we are getting closer to its surface and only then becoming aware of their softness.

Pebble Rubble design conveys a message that transcends the functions and qualities of a common seat. The most evident characteristic is the similarity of the upholstered volumes to those massive rocks, polished by the tireless rain and wind and cloaked by an organic or plant layer capable of softening its roughness and making the surfaces comfortable and welcoming. It is developed as a scenic installation that doesn’t stop at simply simulating, but rests on a lengthy research during which the designers investigated the therapeutic benefits that nature has on people’s physical and mental health, as well as the cultural and psychological significance of natural environments, in particular those found in the designers’ native in Sweden.

This meticulous research also generated 16 new textiles, produced by Kvadrat Febrik, four of which are made exclusively for Moroso. Their development started with the digital scanning of natural surfaces, and the result offers the possibility of transforming the appearance and personality of each individual element, ranging from shades and chromatic gradations of the multiple minerals to the alluring presence of moss or a delicate first snowfall. Although it is mainly intended for use in the corporate and hospitality sectors, Pebble Rubble is made up of 15 modules (seats and backrests) complemented by 3 (foot) stools that allow for a free, flexible, and creative composition process. There are infinite arrangement possibilities, from the single armchair to the creation of a sophisticated panorama, and the whole will contribute to making any interior project magical.

Square was created as a workspace chair and is characterised by essential geometric shapes and precise, necessary lines; it is distinguished by comfort and flexibility of use. Designed for collaborative and agile workspaces, Square is lightweight and easy to move when environments are reorganised. Its geometry allows for the free and informal use of seating surfaces; in fact, the backrest also lends itself to becoming a tabletop, transforming the small armchair into a comfortable stool. The product is offered in one and two-seat versions. In public and work environments, the combination of the two versions allows for a dynamic spatial arrangement that can foster active relationships among groups of people.

STIR takes you on a Milanese sojourn! Experience Salone del Mobile and all the design districts - 5vie, Brera, Fuorisalone, Isola, Zona Tortona, and Durini - with us. STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2022, Meanwhile in Milan showcases the best exhibits, moods, studios, events, and folks to look out for. We are also excited to announce our very own STIR press booth at Salone del Mobile - Hall 5/7 S.14, Fiera Milano RHO.