Poliform is bringing timelessness up to date

When it comes to our interiors, quirk and novelty don’t cut it anymore. 'Classic' and 'timeless' are more the lexicon of responsible design. Longevity – in terms of both taste and wear – is what’s sought to satisfy the environmental call for reduced disposability – since disposability is something which often comes with cutting corners on quality and short-lived hype.

This emphasis on longevity plays into the hands of some of the stalwarts of Italian design, who have built their houses on exquisite, ageless silhouettes, elegance and refinement of craft and materials. It might not have the stop-the-press appeal when a new product is launched, but tends to put detail under the spotlight since it’s in details that we spot subtle updates.

Poliform’s new collection is a case in point. Designed for the most part by Emmanuel Gallina and Jean-Marie Massaud, who have worked with the brand for many years, there is consistency in the design language. The colour palette remains the same and the general ambience is untouched but small shifts in shape, craft and texture point to new outlooks and habits. ‘We must always remain consistent with what our style is, so there is this continuity,’ says Poliform’s Marco Spinelli. ‘But there is innovation because, with our research and development centre, we always aim to find new materials and new technologies – we never stop.’

Take the Brera sofa, kingpin of a new series by Massaud. There is nothing radical in its linear, architectural silhouette – unless you consider the nod to contemporary tastes which sees it offered in a curved version for larger spaces. But the comfort factor is raised, with new technologies and fabrics upping the ante, and couture details are to be found in the stitched leather details. ‘It’s a reflection around what we expect from a sofa,’ says its designer, Jean-Marie Massaud. ‘Firstly, it is a place to share, to live, a friendly place. We wanted to propose a sofa that was very classic in a way but very modern in the way of living. It’s this simple alchemy or balance that mixes very up to date mood and energy with an elegant and calm vision.’

In recent times our pressing desire has been for ease and comfort, which these pieces reflect, along with flow; our multi-tasking spaces need to meld together seamlessly, and to this end, Brera is not only a modular sofa whose shape can mould to your space, but also a bed. It is complemented by the new Kaori armchair – all curves and volume, a line of tables called Mush, in a variety of shapes, sizes, heights and materials (among them are fine, hand-crafted tops in black elm and also in glossy verde lepanto). There’s also his solid wood Ube stool, inspired by a coco de mer, the Hima screen, made from woven rope which defines and partitions space, and the Japanese-inspired Aiko sideboard, with floating shelves and doors in a choice of black elm, wicker-effect wood, or laminated glass. ‘The materials are the protagonists,’ says Spinelli. ‘Wood leather and glass, they are very warm, high-class materials.’

The Curve collection by Gallina, meanwhile, is distinguished by its thoughtfulness. It lifts its forms and fluidity from nature to bring a sense of wellbeing to the home. ‘For the Curve armchair, we have tried to lighten the entire structure and reduce the number of parts in the seat and backrest to a minimum,’ says the designer. ‘The chair's great comfort has still been maintained. There’s a handle on the backrest that you can see from behind. There is a desire to make space more pleasant, to make it warmer and ultimately to make it more liveable.’ In the furniture family is also a dining table which comes with the option to combine wood, marble and leather within the structure, Curve also extends its reach from the dining and living spaces into the bedroom with a bed.

While the latest from the Italian furniture greats may not break the mould of preciously-crafted, durable design, examine the details, and you will find a host of nods to modern mores.

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