The Jean Nouvel Seating Collection by Coalesse echoes nature's spontaneity

Globally-renowned architect Jean Nouvel's bold and innovative design language integrates with the creative vision of US-based furniture company Coalesse in a modern ensemble of seats: the Jean Nouvel Seating Collection. The smooth, edgeless forms of the collection's pieces allude to elements of nature, such as rocks in a riverbed and shifting dunes, while also referencing the Pritzker Architecture Prize winner's striking architectural oeuvre. The uninterrupted curves that delineate the shell of each furniture design are achieved through complex engineering and pattern work developed by the French architect in close collaboration with the brand founded in California, and now based in Europe.

The 'office lounge seating that flows naturally' is sculpted to occupy space by winding through it organically, enabling fluid planning. "The concept for the collection came from the way the water flows over pebbles in a stream—the dynamic movement lends itself to public spaces, particularly in the workplace, as people flow through space. We loved the idea of using furniture in this organic way, rather than the typical rectilinear upholstery choices that lead to more division and bifurcation of space," Meghan Dean, general manager, Design Brands and Partners at Steelcase, shares with STIR. Steelcase is an American manufacturer of innovative furnishings and solutions; among its vast family of brands is Coalesse, which strives to deliver efficient design experiences.

A fully upholstered lounge chair, sofa design, ottoman and tête-à-tête make up the sculptural collection which was showcased during ICFF New York this year. Here, Amit Gupta, founder and editor-in-chief of STIR, indulged in its design offerings in conversation with Michael Held, global design director, and Abigail French, regional vice president at Steelcase—both seated on the collection's edgeless tête-à-tête.

Interwoven curves in the furniture express both dynamism and a sense of fragility. The contours, while reaffirming the product designs' visual semantics, efficiently provide support to the user's arms and back, offering optimum comfort. With a flowing, wave-like design, the rounded forms of each seat softly cradle the body. These organic shapes complement a wide array of palettes, available in diverse upholstery colours and textures, ranging from soft and earthy to bold and sophisticated.

Abiding by Nouvel's architectural philosophy, the collection abandons rigidity for fluidity and improvisation. The furniture pieces are developed without predetermined orientation or arrangement, challenging users to interact with them from any direction. Similar to river pebbles tossed by water, these shapes can be instinctively arranged to meet an array of spatial requirements, ranging from co-working environments to casual lounges or peaceful residential nooks. "The elementary quality I seek has nothing to do with minimalism or brutalism: it involves ambiguity and complexity. The simpler an object looks, the more obvious or familiar, the harder it is to make, the more emotion it offers and the better it stands the test of time," Nouvel says in an official statement.

The sculptural tête-à-tête reinterprets an older French typology with a contemporary spin, fostering conversation and bonding. Whether alone or grouped into freeform clusters, every piece in the collection invites movement and dialogue. "Our priorities at Coalesse are to focus on solutions that are built for the workplace but provide a comfortable and supportive environment. Making a lounge piece comfortable, but also suitably supportive for working, is an area of expertise for Coalesse," as Dean mentions.

Instead of the traditional bulk of lounge seating, which typically features complex plywood construction, the Jean Nouvel Seating Collection utilises a creative rotomolded core—a 'hidden architecture' that eases complexity. Through the process of rotomolding, or rotational molding, the designers craft the furniture's hollow, seamless parts. This lightweight internal structure is wrapped in a layer of cushioning that provides adequate material for achieving comfort and clarity of form. The minimalist construction celebrates the integrity of the design and reduces its environmental footprint by minimising embodied carbon. Designed to last and to last well, each component is based on reparability and recyclability, so the collection stands the test of time in both form and function.

The partnership between Nouvel and Coalesse culminates in carefully considered objects that are responsive in terms of form, comfort and context. "It was a collaboration that reflects our approach at Coalesse—bringing together thought leadership in the workplace with great design to create something unique and beautiful," Dean tells STIR. With its sinuous curves, eco-friendly construction and versatility between spaces, the Jean Nouvel Seating Collection invites a slower, more sensorial relationship with space. It is underscored by Nouvel's belief that the most elemental designs often require the greatest precision to leave a lasting impression.