THE MAH JONG SOFA CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY: CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT A DESIGN ICON
Designed in 1971, the Mah Jong sofa was the result of the collaboration between two talented men: Philippe Roche, a visionary businessman co-founder of Roche Bobois company and Hans Hopfer, a design genius who was able to capture and forerun the changes of lifestyles with a great creativity.
The Mah Jong sofa
The Mah Jong sofa, cutting-edge and innovative since its creation, has become a real design icon, just like the Proust Armchair by Mendini, but characterized by comfort signed by Roche Bobois.
Starting with three basic elements which can be juxtaposed or overlapped, the Mah Jong sofa allows limitless options of composition, from the simplest to the most complex: armchair, sofa, lounge chair, bed or living space…for a customized comfort that reflects the enthusiasm and vitality of the era it comes from.
A painter, a sculptor, a designer, the eclectic Hans Hopfer has created an innovative sofa that revolves around three cushions that are hand stitched with a method similar to that of luxury mattress-making and can be assembled as you desire. Pouf, corner sofa, or without arms: a variety of layouts.
THE MAH JONG SOFA CELEBRATES THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Mah Jong sofa is reinterpreted by different designers who dressed the cushions with exclusive fabrics designed by Kenzo Takada, Jean Paul Gaultier and Missoni Home. In addition, the sofa is placed on an elegant platform supported by linear small feet positioned slightly backward creating a surprising optical illusion.
Seats that seem to float.
Behind the seatback of the sofa and along the entire length of the platform, you can see a refined support in the shape of an airplane wing that holds cushions in place.
Even after 50 years the Mah Jong sofa champions total freedom of form and function and allows endless options of composition: one, two or three seats, with or without surfaces to place books, trays, lamps or other decorative objects.
After 50 years the Mah Jong sofa is still modern and if you place one of many design lamps that made history next to it, it might be mistaken for a sofa designed the day before yesterday!
SOME CURIOUS FACTS ABOUT THE MAH JONG SOFA
Since 1990 this sofa has been the best seller of French company Roche Bobois, and is produced and packaged in Italy.
Each element is unique and individually hand-stitched using processes and techniques similar to those of the haute-couture fashion industry.
The Mah Jong sofa has also an outdoor version.
