BOB | Borselius & Bernstrand 2017
Build it short or long, with just a couple or a lot of
modules. Each of the five + one different modules
are a mere 26 cm in width, which turns Bob into an
easily understood and extremely flexibly modular
sofa system. Make it straight, add a hairpin turn,
or let the caterpillar-like formations flow in gentle
rhythmical curves. Where ordinary sofas are usually
rectangular, square and predictable, Bob offers an
architectonic freedom to either challenge or adhere
to all types of spaces. Without any “back” side,
Bob faces all directions beautifully, providing even
more possibilities for ever-changing interior design
architecture. The straightforward construction requires
a minimum of maintenance: a frame in FSC-certified
plywood with a sturdy yet soft mould of foam, and
a wide selection of fabrics and colours.
Johan Lindau, CEO and design manager of
Blå Station, has once again challenged two of
Sweden’s most renowned designers. Is it possible
to allow for maximum flexibility with a minimum of
components at a reasonable price? And will Stefan
Borselius and Thomas Bernstrand once more be
able to collaborate – even more intimately this time –
than with their former success, Experiment 15, which
resulted in Honken, Poppe and Morris JR?
‘You can easily get stuck on details when you work
alone’, say Thomas Bernstrand and Stefan Borselius
in unison. ‘We work faster together when we can
switch roles, taking turns at leaning back to take in
the big picture, or immersing ourselves in the details.’
Logistics and production handling are obviously of
paramount importance. ‘We cut and adjusted a
volume in styrofoam in Stefan’s studio until the height
and depth was spot on’, says Thomas Bernstrand.
‘Then we rotated it until it fitted perfectly on a Euro
pallet.’ The final result is a compact volume for
transport, with each module being easy to handle
both in the factory and on site. ‘Sit on the back
of the sofa, or deep down in it; you will be sitting
comfortably regardless’, says Stefan Borselius, and
continues: ‘Enter the floor plan into the computer and
let Bob flow through space with simple or complex
forms. Email the order to Blå Station, and you will
get a tailored delivery directly from the factory’.
