mare sofa

For this project, we set aside the usual constraints of cost, productivity, and delivery, and instead pursued a single ideal guided by the concepts of “freedom and refinement.” We began with an expansive seat that allows complete freedom—whether sitting upright or lying down. By shaping the seat with flowing curves, variations in depth were introduced, enabling a range of sitting positions. In contrast, the sides and back are kept straight, allowing the sofa to be placed neatly against walls or in corners. The balance between these purposeful curves and straight lines is one of the defining aspects of the design. A variety of modular components can be combined freely, allowing the sofa to adapt to different spaces and lifestyles.

For the seat cushion, while springs or webbing are often used for cost efficiency, we determined that to express the sofa’s complex form and generous scale with true refinement, a construction made entirely of urethane would be best. Through extensive experimentation with countless combinations of thickness, firmness, and density, we developed a five-layer urethane structure. The result is a cushion that offers a soft initial touch, followed by firm support for the body, and then a deeper layer of softness—an ideal balance of comfort. To minimize wrinkling over time, which is common in large seating surfaces, tufted buttons have also been incorporated.
The back cushions are filled with 100% small feathers at high density. While it is common to mix feathers with urethane, even our feather supplier remarked that such a specification is rarely seen. The rich, substantial, and gently enveloping feel can only be achieved through high-density feather filling. The wooden frame is crafted entirely from thick, 50 mm solid timber, assembled using traditional joinery techniques and shaped with hand tools such as planes and carving blades by the hands of craftsmen.

In this way, the mare sofa was created by setting aside all practical constraints—focusing solely on the finest materials and techniques, and single-mindedly pursuing an uncompromising ideal.