London designer Benjamin Hubert has designed a collection of furniture, encompassing a sofa, armchair, side table and coffee table, with exposed timber frames for Italian brand Moroso.
“The ‘Prop’ collection began with the sofa, and the concept stems from the studio’s research into the traditional construction of furniture within this typology” said Hubert.
The design took an honest approach to the construction of the sofa by exposing and celebrating the timber framework, which is conventionally concealed within the upholstery.
Examining an existing manufacturing process in a new light, the studio uses the exposed framework of the sofa and armchair as a mould for the seating area. A sheet of aero-ply is clamped and fastened to the solid timber structure, simplifying the entire construction process and removing the need for complex tooling.
The ‘Prop’ sofa and armchair are upholstered in a softly padded fabric in collaboration with Dutch textile manufacturer, Innofa. This upholstery is fixed to the framework via a series of zips, to be easily interchangeable or removed for washing.
The design language of the ‘Prop’ side table and coffee table is also informed by this overtly structural approach. Each is based on a simple, geometric timber fame, which forms the products’ structure and strength, inlaid with a thin plywood surface.
Moroso launched the Prop collection at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile furniture fair in Milan last month.
