Munich-based boutique producer ClassiCon, renowned globally for holding the reproduction rights to iconic designs by figures such as Eileen Gray, unveiled the innovative Soft Stone Sofa by Porto-based, Singaporean designer Gabriel Tan at this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano. This new seating concept, the culmination of five years of meticulous development, exemplifies ClassiCon’s dual commitment to preserving the relevance of emblematic works from the past while simultaneously introducing meticulously refined new products poised to become distinctive icons for future generations. The Soft Stone Sofa, with its unique stacked-stone aesthetic and advanced ergonomic features, represents a significant addition to ClassiCon’s curated collection, further cementing its reputation at the intersection of classical heritage and contemporary innovation.

ClassiCon: A Legacy of Timeless Design and Forward-Thinking Curation

ClassiCon has long distinguished itself in the high-end furniture market by meticulously curating a collection that bridges historical reverence with modern relevance. The company’s identity is encapsulated in its name: "classical and contemporary." This philosophy is most famously demonstrated through its stewardship of the reproduction rights for numerous designs by Eileen Gray, a pioneer of 20th-century modernism. Gray’s work, characterized by its elegant simplicity, functional innovation, and enduring appeal, forms the cornerstone of ClassiCon’s classic collection. The recent reissue of Gray’s Bibendum chair, celebrating its 100th anniversary, underscores ClassiCon’s dedication to bringing design masterpieces to contemporary audiences, ensuring their legacy persists and resonates with new generations.

Beyond preserving historical icons, ClassiCon strategically invests in contemporary design, collaborating with a select group of designers whose visions align with the brand’s ethos of quality, longevity, and understated sophistication. These new introductions are not merely trendy pieces but are selected for their potential to transcend fleeting fashions and achieve enduring iconic status, mirroring the timelessness of Gray’s oeuvre. Gabriel Tan’s Soft Stone Sofa is a prime example of this forward-looking strategy, embodying a careful balance between artistic expression, functional excellence, and sustainable design principles.

The Genesis of the Soft Stone Sofa: Nature’s Unexpected Muse

The inspiration for the Soft Stone Sofa draws from a remarkably elemental source: the stacked terrace stones commonly found in old public parks. Specifically, Gabriel Tan’s adoptive city of Porto, Portugal, and its expansive Parque da Cidade, provided the direct impetus. These stone formations, originally constructed to retain undulating earth and delineate flat ground plazas, have long served an informal secondary purpose as impromptu benches for park-goers. It was during the restrictive period of the global pandemic that Tan found himself frequenting Parque da Cidade, using these very stone arrangements as his outdoor "office."

"I went to the park a lot during the pandemic and basically used it as my office, sitting on the interlocking stones and sketching new ideas," Tan recounted. This intimate interaction with the natural, utilitarian structures sparked a profound realization. "I wanted to develop a modular sofa and realized I was sitting on one. The idea was right underneath me. I just needed to figure out how to make it ergonomic, logical, and rational." This serendipitous discovery initiated a five-year journey of design refinement, transforming a raw, natural observation into a sophisticated piece of contemporary furniture.

Further enriching this conceptual framework was the influence of Japanese American polymath Isamu Noguchi. Noguchi’s sculptures, known for their paradoxical blend of hardness and perceived softness, offered a crucial artistic precedent for Tan. Noguchi’s ability to imbue rigid materials with organic fluidity and a sense of inviting tactility resonated deeply with Tan’s ambition to create a sofa that, despite its stone-inspired composition, would offer ultimate comfort and ergonomic support. The challenge lay in translating the visual weight and structural simplicity of stacked stone into a plush, adaptable, and highly functional seating system.

Design Philosophy and Ergonomic Innovations

The Soft Stone Sofa is a meticulous study in both aesthetics and function. Its somewhat expressive composition distills the purity of natural forms, presenting a visual language that is both robust and inviting. However, the true genius of the design lies beneath its surface, in the sophisticated engineering dedicated to user comfort and adaptability.

The functional excellence of the sofa is achieved through subtle yet critical variations in its upholstery. A strategic interplay of Nosag springs and memory foam is employed to ensure targeted support and varied seating experiences. This innovative approach means there is firmness precisely where needed—for instance, in areas that support the spine or facilitate ease of movement—while other sections offer a more yielding, "sinking-in" sensation for relaxed lounging. This intelligent distribution of firmness and plushness caters to the diverse needs of users, promoting both comfort and postural support.

A notable ergonomic detail is the sofa’s especially tall seat, designed with increased rigidity towards its front edge. This thoughtful consideration allows users to rise from the sofa with greater ease, a practical advantage that enhances accessibility and user experience. The radius of the sofa’s curved edges was also meticulously determined, not only contributing to its organic, monolithic appearance but also influencing its interaction with the human body, providing gentle support and a sense of embrace.

Crucially, Tan opted to remove traditional seamlines from the sofa’s primary surfaces. This deliberate choice serves a dual purpose: it visually enhances the metaphor of monolithic stone, giving each module a sculptural, unbroken quality, and it contributes to the sofa’s sleek, contemporary aesthetic. "It enhances the metaphor of monolithic stone," Tan explains, highlighting how this detail reinforces the core inspiration. To further accommodate different human proportions and preferences, the Soft Stone Sofa comes with accompanying head and back cushions, offering additional support where desired, allowing for personalized comfort configurations.

Modularity, Customization, and Longevity: A Future-Proof Design

One of the Soft Stone Sofa’s most compelling attributes is its exceptional modularity and the extensive choice it offers to customers. The system comprises 11 asymmetrical components, including various seat, backrest, and arm modules. This extensive array allows for an almost limitless range of configurations, enabling users to create a bespoke seating arrangement that perfectly suits their space, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences.

Gabriel Tan emphasizes the depth of this customization: "They can even opt to have the various elements wrapped in various fabric and colorways. The sofa’s profile can appear completely different from left and right perspective." This level of personalization means that each Soft Stone Sofa can be a unique creation, reflecting the individuality of its owner. The subtle curvature of each component, combined with hidden strips of Velcro, ensures that despite their modularity, the elements fit together seamlessly and remain securely in place, maintaining the sofa’s sculptural integrity.

The inherent flexibility of the Soft Stone Sofa extends beyond initial configuration. A custom arrangement can be added to and modified over time, adapting to changing needs or environments. This built-in adaptability, coupled with ClassiCon’s unwavering commitment to quality construction and premium materials, ensures the product’s exceptional longevity. In an era increasingly conscious of sustainability and conscious consumption, a piece of furniture designed to evolve and endure holds significant appeal. This foresight in design allows the Soft Stone Sofa to potentially carry the same lasting impact and iconic clout as Eileen Gray’s revered Bibendum chair, which has celebrated its centenary as a testament to timeless design.

Broader Implications and Market Resonance

The debut of the Soft Stone Sofa at Salone del Mobile.Milano, the world’s foremost furniture fair, signifies its importance within the global design landscape. Salone serves as a critical barometer for emerging trends and a launchpad for products destined to shape the future of interior design. ClassiCon’s decision to unveil Tan’s creation at this prestigious event underscores their confidence in its potential to become a new benchmark in modular seating.

The sofa resonates strongly with several prevailing trends in contemporary design. Its biomorphic forms align with the growing interest in biophilic design, which seeks to connect occupants with nature through natural light, shapes, and materials. By drawing inspiration from stacked stones, the sofa subtly introduces elements of the outdoors into indoor spaces, fostering a sense of calm and organic flow. Furthermore, its modularity speaks to the modern demand for adaptable living solutions, catering to dynamic lifestyles and evolving spatial requirements. The ability to reconfigure and expand the sofa ensures it remains relevant and functional for years, aligning with principles of circular design and reducing wasteful consumption.

For ClassiCon, the Soft Stone Sofa reaffirms its strategic position as a bridge between design heritage and future innovation. By championing designers like Gabriel Tan, whose work is characterized by thoughtful research, cultural fusion, and a deep respect for materials and form, ClassiCon continues to enrich its portfolio with pieces that are both aesthetically compelling and intellectually robust. Tan’s background—a Singaporean designer based in Porto—also highlights the increasingly globalized nature of design, where diverse cultural perspectives converge to create universally appealing forms.

The Soft Stone Sofa is more than just a piece of furniture; it is a narrative of inspiration, a triumph of ergonomic engineering, and a testament to the enduring power of thoughtful design. Its launch signals ClassiCon’s ongoing dedication to shaping the future of living spaces with objects that are not only beautiful and comfortable but also possess the inherent quality and timelessness to become cherished heirlooms.

To learn more about the Soft Stone Sofa and ClassiCon’s collection, visit classicon.com.

Photography by Inês Silva Sá.