FEATURED STORY
A Sofa Like a Warm Embrace
To coincide with the start of fall and the beginning of the “sofa season” Freifrau is, for the first time, adding a modular sofa collection to its extensive range of comfortable, top-quality seating. Established in 2012 and based in Germany, Freifrau designs and manufactures well-crafted products, the kind that foster a real sense of well-being. The discerning customer is the target group for their customized and customizable feel-good products. One of the mainstays of Freifrau furniture is the great choice of exclusive fabrics on offer – the spectrum includes not only bouclé and corduroy but also high-grade leather, the latter coming in any number of different hues. A real headache for award-winning, up and coming designer Ilja Huber, who dreamt up the design for “Mia”, who has, at the end of the day, more than succeeded in achieving everything that was asked of him.
“In Ilja Huber we are very proud to have found a designer who did not allow himself to be intimidated by the wealth of different materials available, but who accepted the challenge enthusiastically,” comments CEO Niklas Helweg, who was more than happy with Huber’s work. The designer has always attached great importance to designing interdisciplinary products and objects and his design method is accordingly based on thorough research, close observation and analysis of the defined requirements, all in an effort to deliver the best possible solutions. It really is the process of experimenting with industrial and crafting processes that often results in a designer finding the best possible solutions in terms of the functionality and user-friendliness of a product. With this in mind, giving apparently simple things a surprising twist is one of Huber’s trademarks. This is also reflected in the concept for “Mia”.
“The starting point for my design was comfortable armrests and backrests. With these in mind, I took my inspiration from the idea of ample cushions. All of which spells not only a functional piece of seating, but also a feast for the eyes,” is how this German designer describes his approach. Mia is not only comfortable to sit on and boasts a classic elegance, but, at the same time, it allows for all kinds of different combinations, thanks to the 11 different modules on offer – everything from cozy two or three-seater sofas to generously proportioned seating scenarios and even elegant lounge furniture. “The generously padded armrests and backrests of this model’s various seating modules feel like a loving embrace – we want everybody who sits down on ‘Mia’ to feel good immediately and to forget about their hectic everyday lives for a few minutes,” adds Freifrau CEO Marc Helweg.
Comfort, versatility and the feel-good factor – it is hard to think of any other collections that epitomize the three core values of this crafts company with its focus on exceptional workmanship as well as “Mia” does. Indeed, even if, at first glance, the individual seating elements do appear quite classic, on closer inspection their large-format, easy to adjust backrests and armrests are much more versatile than one might imagine. Thanks to its modular concept, the sofa’s size and shape can be adapted to suit individual requirements and environments. Freestanding poufs, armchairs and optional cushions round out the collection. Moreover, Huber has succeeded in integrating Freifrau’s high-end materials, with their quality workmanship into its concept, resulting in a durable, robust, aesthetically appealing product. This being the case, we are bound in future to encounter “Mia” not only in the domestic context but also in elegant lobbies and stylish lounges.
