Camilla Glacier sofa (work in progress)

My first design was the Camillo sofa. “Glacier” describes the size of the design, as it is a large piece compared to my chairs. It is difficult to handle and involves a lot of wood- and steelwork.

Steelwork:

I am using 50 x 25 mm steel and placing the 50 mm side facing outward to show more depth. At the backrest, I turn the steel so that the 50 mm side again faces outward, giving it a cleaner, more deliberate thin appearance from the side. For the front legs, I bring the steel around the corners at 90 degrees, and also do a centre support in the same style. I am still wondering whether I should make the finish smooth to emphasise the lines that make the foot appear almost detached from the frame.

Upholstery:

The material is a very light cream/white bouclé from the Hogan range by Hertex (Glacier). I am planning one solid piece of fabric for the entire seat, with only subtle vertical stitching in the front corners, with no seams on the front or sides.

Very minimalist. No top stitching.

Dimensions:

1.8 m wide. I am aiming for a slightly lower seat height than normal, approximately 415 mm before sitting and sinking deeper into the seat.

The backrest is also lower so that an arm can comfortably rest over it. The seat will be very flat with minimal curvature in the centre, only what is caused by the suspension.

The usable seat depth will be slightly deeper than normal, approximately 600 mm, with the backrest positioned further back for a more relaxed seating experience.

Backrest:

Lower than normal and stopping just below the shoulders. I am introducing a very slight taper (approximately 10 degrees), but still want to retain the strong “box” appearance.

Features:

I am planning to shift the backrest to one side rather than placing it in the centre. The backrest will also be 1.3 m wide compared to the 1.8 m width of the seat.

I will offer both options to a client and design the steel so that either option can be used during installation. I am also working on a sliding table that can move across the open section of the seat, but I still need to decide between wood or an upholstered surface for the tabletop.

The light-coloured material is probably not ideal when it comes to stains, but for me, it is mainly about the aesthetics.

Armrests:

No fixed armrests. Instead, I am designing two loose cushions that fulfil this function. Instead of round bolsters, I will use rectangular cushions with higher-density foam, firm enough to support the elbows, easy to move and completely removable to maintain that minimalist appearance.

Colours and finish:

I really like deep bronze and gold, but for this design I am using a simple matt black steel. The finish will show hand-finishing with directional lines in the steel, rather than a smooth, standard finish — something more unique and tactile.

The back of the backrest, as well as the cushions, I want to do in black suede for contrast: black and white.

Watch this space as this design comes together.

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