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Pebble Outdoor Sofa by Mattice Boets

Pebble Outdoor Sofa by Mattice Boets is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award yn Izer in Meubelûntwerp Competition Category.


IzerMeubels· 2022

Pebble Outdoor Sofa

by Mattice Boets

Client: Mattice Boets

A' Design Award yn Izer Winner in Meubels Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #140245

Colors

The Design

About Pebble Outdoor Sofa

Ynspirearre troch de tactility fan kiezels, Pebble is in iepenloft sofa makke fan wyt-griis kork. It bestiet út ferskate pebble-like kessens dy't perfekt byinoar passe. It ûntwerp fertaalt de tûkens fan kiezels, de drang om te fielen en oan te raken, yn in kiezelachtige komposysje dy't elkenien op elk momint fan it jier kin belibje. De bank kin permanint bûten litten wurde en is resistint tsjin natuerlik waar. It gebrûk fan kork is in premier yn bûtenmeubels. It lit in nije ûntwerptaal ûntstean, is lichtgewicht, en toant it potensjeel fan it brûken fan kork bûten gebrûk binnen.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award yn Izer

Pebble Outdoor Sofa is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Izer, in prestisjeuze erkenning foar goede ûntwerpen dy't foldogge oan de profesjonele en yndustriële easken dy't ferwachte wurde fan goed ûntwurpen skeppings. Izerwinners litte grutte feardigens, hege spesjalisaasje, deskundich begryp en kreatyf fermogen fan har makkers sjen. Fan Pebble Outdoor Sofa wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierbere skepping is dy't praktysk en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Izer yntegrearret de bêste praktiken fan de sektor en hat feardige technyske skaaimerken ferbûn mei kennis en talint. Pebble Outdoor Sofa wurdt respektearre foar syn yngeandens en is ûntwurpen om ferbetteringen fan de kwaliteit fan it libben te leverjen dy't helpe de wrâld ta in bettere plak te meitsjen.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Pebble is an outdoor sofa made from white-grey cork. It consists of various pebble-like cushions that perfectly fit together. The sofa can be left outdoors permanently and is resilient against natural weathering. It can be enjoyed out in the sun during any time of the year. The design translates the tactility of pebbles, the urge to feel and touch, into a pebble-like composition that everyone can experience.
Dimensions & Packaging
The sofa is 220 cm x 68 cm x 77 cm. The seating area is reclined at 16 degrees with a total seating angle of 111 degrees. This provides a relaxed and slightly laid-back seating position. The positions of the cushions allow people to sit comfortably in various ways on the sofa. As seen from the top view, three people can sit on the sofa at the same time, each with their own little spot. The largest spot is in the middle, with the two smaller ones on each side of the sofa.
Tags
Pebble, sofa, outdoor, Mattice, Boets, design, outdoors, cork, white, stone
Production Technology
The sofa is made from white-grey cork that is CNC milled. A bio-coating is applied on top of the cork for additional durability against natural weathering. Each of the pieces is made individually and then assembled using wooden connections.
Design Challenge
Finding a suitable composition of several cushions was challenging. We had to make sure the sofa was structurally well-balanced, aesthetically pleasing, and manufacturable while making sure everything together formed a comfortable sofa.
Research
Inspired by the tactility of pebbles, this sofa attempts to translate these qualities into a piece of furniture. Up to this point, cork had only been used indoors for acoustics, insulation and sometimes even furniture. However, cork is not limited to indoor use only. It is perfectly capable of being used outdoors with a simple bio-coating. No matter what season it is, the bio-coating will provide the necessary protection for a durable design.
Inspiration
After many years, pebbles are formed by flowing through water and colliding with other rocks. Pebbles have this unexplainable urge to touch and feel them. While they look soft on the outside, they are rock-hard to the core. What if we could capture these tactile qualities of pebbles, the need to touch and feel them, and transform them into a piece of outdoor furniture?
Project Duration
The project was designed in November 2021 in Hasselt, Belgium, and was completed in February of 2022.
Operation Flow
It takes the idea of a pebble back to its roots; they were once formed by colliding with other rocks through the flow of water. Now, they form a static yet perfectly balanced composition. All cushions are slightly angled making any rainfall drop off its surface. The use of cork is a premier in outdoor furniture. It allows the complex organic design of Pebble to be made with ease, is lightweight allowing the sofa to be moved easily, and it shows the potential of using cork beyond just indoor use.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Mattice Boets, 2022.

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