puffer armchair and sofa by philippe malouin for SCP

philippe malouin turns ‘puffer’ into a system of chairs

a year after london-based company SCP launched its first prototype of the ‘puffer’ armchair, philippe malouin has fully developed the designed into a system of chairs – comprising an armchair alongside two, three, and four-seat sofas.

the process of expanding the design went as follow for malouin: ‘it’s a TV sofa, something to spend hours and hours on. the design of the puffer is super related to lockdown, and what people want from a sofa now. that is probably the reason why it is that big. how do you sit on a sofa? how long do you stay there? what position do you want to sit in? the design of the sofa has been about considering these things’.

the four-seat ‘puffer’ sofa – 3/4 front view

COMFORT AND SIMPLICITY AS MAIN FUNCTIONS

‘puffer’ has been created with a love of simple shapes and the idea of comfort as a function. working closely with the product development team at SCP’s specialist upholstery factory, philippe malouin (view his works here) first took inspiration from the feather filled ‘puffer’ jacket. the result is an impressively comfortable design that shows a deep understanding of the possibilities of traditional upholstery making. both versions are made from natural materials with joinable feather pocket sections produced at SCP’s specialist upholstery factory in norfolk, england.

the four-seat ‘puffer’ sofa – front view

in sections: rethinking the method of production

‘it is designed to be a sofa you don’t need an ottoman with. we decided to make it in parts. the initial jacket idea was a good idea, but was harder to put on than we imagined. by making it in sections, it also allows for it to be specified with a range of different fabrics. it looks the same, but the curve goes down to the floor from the inside of the armrest. for it to become a sofa system, we needed to change the method of production, in parts. the sofa system informed the design of the new armchair, as they needed to be the same’, comments malouin.

the three-seat ‘puffer’ sofa

the two-seat ‘puffer’ sofa

the ‘puffer’ armchair – front view

the ‘puffer’ armchair – 3/4 front view

the ‘puffer’ armchair – back view

the ‘puffer’ armchair in context – 3/4 front view

project info:

name: puffer sofa and armchair
designer: philippe malouin for SCP

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom