Enveloping design with attitude-Parka by Poltrona Frau

On the occasion of Milan Design Week, Poltrona Frau presented its new Parka series of sectional and modular sofas. A collection that inaugurated an exciting collaboration with the creative duo Draga & Aurel. Last year, the 2024 Imagine Collection by Poltrona Frau invited our Imagination to emerge as a creative force that could manifest our dream interiors, shaping them to create a more relatable and personal space. With this in mind, and to give voice to the numerous and possible declinations of the theme, the luxury furniture brand has further expanded its roster of `in-house design consultants', commissioning exciting new names to join forces on the various projects. The renowned design duo Draga & Aurel has been invited to collaborate on the Imagine Softness theme. The Serbian/German design partners have been based in Como Italy for many years, and have a particularly impressive professional path which works across the spectrum of various artistic and cultural fields. Lovers of fashion, bespoke vintage and enveloping shapes, Draga & Aurel have always been particularly sensitive to the culture of textile recycling and upcycling.

In this first project for Poltrona Frau, they hone their exceptional talent with Parka, a modular seating system that pays homage to the iconic jacket. From pop stars to streetwear: in the '90s the Oasis frontman (who was highly influenced by Mod's '60s fashion) managed to take an everyday garment and make it cool. The Parka jacket became the epitome of street style, a versatile, protective garment but soft and comfortable at the same time. Much like the iconic jacket, the Parka sofa coordinates effortlessly with all types of interiors and is extremely versatile, despite (or even because of) its strong personality. The soft lines and generously padded upholstery that skims the floor hint at comfort and relaxation. The unusual elliptical shape of the backrest, which inclines to become an armrest and then a seamless seat, creates a concave or convex space that is both audacious and welcoming, seamlessly coordinating with different styles of interiors.

"Not many companies are capable of embracing so many different external visions whilst still upholding a furnishing philosophy consistent with its identity." states Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau, "Over the years, in the various collaborations with new designers, Poltrona Frau has always sought and upheld that sense of contemporary luxury which is able to respond - in an aesthetic, conceptual and, above all, ethical way - to modern requisites." The Parka collection comprises modular elements: a concave or convex armchair without armrests or with a terminal armrest, the latter also in a maxi version, either right-side or left-side. It can be upholstered either entirely in Pelle Frau®, in the various types of leather present in the catalogue, or in a leather + fabric combination. In this case the leather is applied to the external structure, while the fabric is applied to the seat, backrest and armrest. Tone-on-tone top stitching completes the aesthetic.

DRAGA & AUREL

United by a common artistic education and a professional path that has successfully made an impact in fashion, music and craftsmanship, Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow are the founders of the eponymous multidisciplinary studio and atelier, active in Como since 2007. At Draga & Aurel, Art and Design follow two parallel and contemporary paths in a continuous exchange that strengthens and sometimes inverts their meanings. Considered as the precursors of bespoke upcycling in design, Draga & Aurel are amongst the most revered contemporary names in the collectible sector, and their handmade pieces are exhibited and distributed by some of the most prestigious international galleries. The design production is flanked by Aurel K. Basedow's artistic oeuvres: powerful, evocative and poetic artworks. The same artistic approach to materials is applied in the furniture design pieces created for some of the major, and most visionary, Italian design companies. Architectural Digest have ranked Draga & Aurel amongst the most influential names in design and, for the third consecutive year, they have been selected in the AD100 List of Honourees. Their projects were included in the ADI Design Index, and they have been awarded the prestigious Wallpaper*Design Award.

Poltrona Frau has been a leader in the world of Made in Italy furnishings since 1912. As a brand, it values artistic aptitude and meticulous construction, using only the highest-quality raw materials, like Pelle Frau® leather, making it the ideal go-to for high-end furniture for the home and office. The search for style has led Poltrona Frau to create classic pieces that express a unique elegance that is as universal as it is intimate and personal, from Chester and Vanity Fair, designed by company founder Renzo Frau, to Dezza by Gio Ponti and Titano, a project by Pierluigi Cerri that won the brand its first Compasso d'Oro industrial design award. Not forgetting the brand's more recent successes, including the collections expertly designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, Roberto Lazzeroni, GamFratesi and Neri&Hu. Poltrona Frau also fosters an exquisite blend of tradition and innovation through two additional business units. Firstly, we have Interiors in Motion, which specializes in the furnishing of exclusive interiors for cars, luxury yachts, rail and air transport. This division proudly collaborates with some of the most renowned luxury brands, including Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren in the automotive sector, and Ferretti Yachts, Pershing and Riva in the seafaring sector, to name but a few. Secondly, there is the Custom Interiors division, which focuses on creating purpose-designed seating for auditoriums, theatres, airports, public spaces, office and store showrooms, hotels and yachts, working very closely with the very best names in the fields of architecture and international design. It has partnered with the likes of Renzo Piano, Foster + Partners, Frank 0.Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Zaha Hadid Studio and David Chipperfield to produce some of its most iconic design projects. The beating heart of the operation has always been the production site in Tolentino, located in the Marche region of Italy, an expert factory with roots in the local area. The Tolentino site is at the forefront in the area of environmental sustainability certifications, as well as in regard to the health and safety of its employees.


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