Boss Design launches a modular seating system attuned to public life

Today, interior comfort has extended far beyond domestic life. It’s also expected in the public arena – from workspaces, to retail and education environments, leisure and hospitality. Not only is a comfortable sofa a welcome rest stop whilst on the go, those moments of comfort have changed the social dynamics of space for the better, improving inclusivity and communication. The only problem is that public spaces demand so much more from comfy upholstery, including durability and flexibility.

Boss Design’s latest collection Beau is a modular lounge system of sofa seats and connecting tables that fuses enveloping comfort with the requirements of public-facing spaces. Both upbeat and expansive, its organically curved modules express the boldness of Modernism and the vibrancy of Pop Art – and they’ve gone through a rigorous manufacturing process in the UK, during which depth, pitch and softness have been tested by a wide cross-section of users ensuring accessible and inclusive comfort.

Sensory style

'A lot of furniture is designed for us to sit "on", but our ambition with Beau was always to create something people can relax "into" – seating so soft that it moulds to the form of the sitter and makes them feel like they are at one with the piece', explains Aaron Clarkson, Lead Designer, Boss Design.

To achieve this, Beau’s responsibly sourced plywood frame has been layered with foam (sourced from local suppliers) and dispersed serpentine springs, with a back support of webbed suspension – elements that work together to create the voluptuous shape. High quality, thick, textured fabrics such as bouclés and twill weaves finish the effect, which can be topped off with optional, complementary scatter cushions. Importantly, it has been designed for easy disassembly for reupholstery, a bonus for frequent use and designers seeking products with long lifecycles.

As well as being physically satisfying, sofas in public spaces need to be visually pleasing, which was another key driver of Beau’s design for Clarkson. 'What makes a sofa comfortable? Firstly, there’s what our eyes tell us – how its lines, form, proportions and silhouette together create the impression of visual comfort,' he says. (In busy workplaces for example, users may not even find a moment to sit down, yet they can rest assured that comfort looks inviting and is readily available.)

Beau certainly has a friendly character and its smooth lines and simplicity of form are also reassuring aspects for designers looking for a modular system that can provide a solid, reliable backdrop to an interior: Beau is an ideal base or starting point, to which then other furniture or art can then be added. It offers a firm presence, yet is never dominating. 'There is always the temptation to add details to a design – to make it look plush or traditional, for example – but we kept to a vision of a clean, curvaceous form,' says Clarkson.

Socially intuitive design

Whatever the scale or complexity of space – from an intimate shop dressing room to a vast hotel lobby – Beau’s modules can be combined to create custom variations, whether crafting a unique atmosphere for a few people or a landscape of comfort for many. There are single and two-seater units, benches, sitting chaise, plus 120-degree corners, end arms, end tables and joining tables (with optional device chargers).

The design of these units has been carefully attuned to the social dynamics of public spaces that often require diverse uses, facilitating meetings between friends, colleagues and strangers alike for intense or informal interactions. In this context, Beau’s 120-degree corner unit is an interesting innovation from Boss Design, which proved successful in the Myriad seating system designed for modern workspaces. It’s a refreshing alternative to the hard right angle of many other modular systems; 120-degrees is softer and more open, loosening up the system into snaking arrangements and encouraging people to converse and collaborate.

For Boss Design – which has worked with clients such as BT, British Airways, Jaguar and Land Rover – Beau is a new flexible social tool for comfort equipped for all kinds of public interiors including workplace, education, hospitality, retail and leisure. In fact, rather than a tool, it offers designers a tool-belt – it's a space shaper, offering visual interest, digital connectivity and enhancing communication, all whilst being a soft island to sink into during a busy day.

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