• Coveted

The comfort of curves

Right now we’re in need of comfort more than ever and when it comes to our surroundings, nothing soothes the soul like the soft arc of a gentle curve.

 

From Fleming Lassen’s Tired Man chair to Faye Toogood’s Roly Poly dining seat, our love affair with the soaring arch of a vaulted ceiling or the elegant spiral of a hand-finished balustrade, the softness of curves answers our current need for calm and to simply curl up somewhere cocoon-like to wait out the end of the COVID-19 lockdown.

 

With the majority of the world’s population spending more time at home it makes sense that we’re focusing on how to reimagine our living spaces into serene and tranquil places that rest the eye, lower our heart rates and hush the excess noise in our minds. Curves can do just this. Below we shine a light on some of our favourite curvaceous designs right now.

 

Flemming Lassen’s Tired Man chair for Fred International

The Danes really do it better. The teddy bear like embrace of the Tired Man armchair, created by Danish designer Flemming Lassen back in 1935 has been front and centre of the recent resurgence in soft, curvy design. It’s not only the plump round silhouette that appeals but also the bobbly texture of the creamy boucle fabric — a touchy, feely textile that is similarly experiencing a 21^stcentury comeback.

 

Elysee armchair by Pierre Paulin

Created in the 1970s by French designer Pierre Paulin, the Elysee armchair was originally crafted for the renovation of the Elysee Palace in Paris.

 

Akari light sculptures by Isamu Noguchi

Japanese designer and artist Isamu Noguchi created his Akari lighting collection in 1951. His sculptural yet highly practical approach to lighting design (each light comes flat packed) uses natural materials from bamboo rods to Washi paper made from the bark of mulberry trees. The all-natural make-up of a Noguchi lamp continues to appeal today — the Akari 10A floor lamp being one of our personal favourites from a collection that spans 100 designs.

 

Roly Poly dining chair by Faye Toogood

The organic playfulness of British designer Faye Toogood’s Roly Poly dining chair adds a touch of reassuring solidity to any room it inhabits. It’s a wholly unique statement piece that cleverly encapsulates the designer’s signature primal-meets-futuristic aesthetic.

 

Mobile Chandeliers by Michael Anastassiades

British-based Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades’ Mobile Chandelier lighting series is a study in graceful arcs of pure delight. First launched as a collection of straight-lined geometric lighting in 2008 the collection has evolved to embrace curvier shapes in recent years.