The Swedish studio Front, in collaboration with the Italian brand Moroso, has created pieces of furniture that mimic natural objects. 3D scanning technology made it possible to bring the project to life.
The collection, called Design by Nature, consists of six seating pieces. Sofas and banquettes can easily be confused with boulders covered with moss, lichen or algae. This design is designed to bring the atmosphere of nature into the home interior, which we so lack in the city.
“Six objects function as seating, but not in the conventional sense,” say the designers. “Rather, the items should mimic ‘the way a person sits in nature,’ encouraging users to sit or lie down on them.” Front co-founder Sofia Lagerqvist adds: “We wanted the pieces to feel like someone dug up an entire forest clearing with a giant shovel and brought it into the house.”
The designers photographed and 3D scanned Sweden’s rocky forests and seaside areas, and drew numerous sketches before using these images to create the collection. The wooden furniture pieces were shaped into wavy shapes on a router and then covered in tapestry-like patterned fabric from Kvadrat-owned Dutch textile company Febrik. Spotted patterns, muted grey, greenish or blue tones enhance the textile’s resemblance to natural objects. For this project, the designers wanted to focus on nature as it has a positive impact on people’s mental and physical health.