One for all: staying flexible with Freifrau's Mia modular sofa

That German seating specialist Freifrau is not afraid of partnering with up-and-coming as well as established young designers is reflected in its list of designers. Hanne Willmann was behind the Nana series, Lucie Koldova designed Celine and Sebastian Herkner – now one of the most renowned German designers – was responsible for two series, Ona and Theia, for the company which was founded in 2011. Now, Ilja Huber has designed the newest addition to the portfolio. Huber, a qualified tool mechanic, worked for several years in the automotive industry, before returning to study design at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts HFBK.

In 2019, after stopovers at Mykilos and kaschkasch, he founded his own studio, and just one year later, was awarded first place in the Pure Talents Contest – by a jury that included the aforementioned Herkner. Of his approach to design, Huber says that on the one hand, he wants to find solutions to challenges that he notices from his own life, while on the other, they are meant to respond to generally changing living conditions. ‘In today's world, we see that living spaces are getting smaller, we have to find ways to deal differently with the possibilities,’ said the designer in the course of an interview about his Baschnja lamp. So it's no surprise that his Mia sofa for Freifrau also offers maximum flexibility – with Huber having designed not just one piece of seating furniture, but eleven elements that can be used individually or placed in a row.

The impetus for his design was, among other things, the observation that modular sofas usually rely on boxy shapes to ensure that the elements fit together perfectly. ‘I'd had the idea for a while to design a modular sofa that was voluminous, curvy and inviting,’ Huber says. He approached Freifrau's management team, brothers Marc and Niklas Helweg, with his design. ’After they had a look at my idea, they got in touch straight away. It was exactly what they were looking for for their collection. It was a case of me suggesting the right product to them at the right time.’

Together they went straight into development at the company's Lemgo headquarters. ‘The special thing about working with Freifrau is that, thanks to the on-site craftsmanship, the upholsterers can be directly involved in the development process of the furniture. Where other companies might first have to send in prototypes, with Freifrau you can discuss everything directly. How can the comfort be improved? Where do the curves need to be adjusted? Such close cooperation with all those involved is very rare in a design process, but it also allowed us to realise challenging ideas,’ Huber sums up.

One of Freifrau's wishes was that the modular sofa could be combined with a wide variety of cover fabrics. ‘We talked a lot about patterns. If – as Freifrau offers – you can choose between bouclé, corduroy and woven textile, then that is a special task in the design. In the end, we came up with a very flexible silhouette that fits perfectly with the brand identity, thanks to its clearly formulated curves,’ explains Huber.

If you had to reduce the design language to one word, it would probably be comfort. Mia deliberately looks as if it has been pieced together from several puffy cushions. They gently catch the user with an embracing gesture. ‘The basis for my design is the armrests and backrests. Here I was inspired by generous cushions. Their design emphasises the seating comfort both functionally and visually,’ says Huber. And if you are looking for even more cosiness, optional cushions can be added to Mia.

Each module consists of a pouf as a base. Its width, flush or shortened backrests and armrests positioned on the left or right define the possible uses and combinations. The middle sections extend indefinitely in length or arrange themselves into islands, the soft sides complete the constellations. Spacious seating landscapes can be combined just as easily as classic two- or three-seaters, groups or free-standing armchairs. This makes Mia immediately at home in any setting, whether that's in the living room at home, in an elegant hotel lobby or the lounge area of an office.

Freifrau managing director Marc Helweg is also enthusiastic about the latest addition to the company's portfolio, whose soft curves act as a gesture, inviting users to settle down and come to rest: ‘The lushly upholstered backrests of the rectangular seating modules have the effect of a loving embrace – anyone who sits down on Mia should immediately feel at ease and forget the hectic pace of everyday life for a precious moment.’

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