SF-01

High use office and commercial environments present a longevity challenge to upholstered soft furnishings, with in-depth research revealing widespread client concerns regarding maintenance and expected lifespan of such items.Soft furnishings are typically manufactured by bonding together structural materials, Petro-chemical based foams and fabrics using permanent adhesives, creating complex inseparable multi-material entangled composites that inhibit repair, refurbishment, and end-of-life recovery.Additionally, the materials used often contain toxic binders and are also treated with chemical flame retardants that emit harmful VOC's, negatively impacting on the air quality of the interior environments within which we live and work.

The design solution for SF-01 involved extensive material research, prototyping and testing, to develop a novel construction approach with ‘Design for Disassembly’ as the primary focus.SF-01 is a modular soft seating system, consisting of a seat or ottoman, armrest, table and privacy screen. Built around an innovative clip together structure, encased in a clever upholstery 'jacket' that securely locks everything together, SF-01 is assembled without bonding any dissimilar materials together. This approach ensures that every individual component within SF-01 can easily be disassembled and repaired when needed, and eventually recycled rather than discarded into landfill.

The prohibitive cost to repair a typical sofa often leads to it being sent to landfill instead. In stark contrast to this, SF-01 has been developed to enable all elements within the assembly to be repaired, effectively extending the potential lifespan of the system indefinitely.A thoughtful approach to material specification has minimised the environmental impact of SF-01, eliminating the use of fossil-fuel based foams, and by using structural materials made from recycled agricultural waste. Produced from recycled and recyclable materials, favouring natural materials over synthetic substitutes, and designed for disassembly with removable upholstery covers, SF-01 can last for generations.

The SF-01 introduces an innovative construction concept for sofa design and production which encourages refurbishment over replacement. SF-01 is a practical, transformable soft seating system that has been developed as a versatile kit of parts with a total of 6 different elements – seat, backrest, ottoman, privacy screens, armrests and tables - that can be assembled to create various combinations depending on requirements and space. Functionality can be further enhanced by the inclusion of integrated power modules with options of wired/wireless charging.Its core elements consist of a body made from Strawboard , cleverly clipped together without the use glue or screws. Natural latex foam cushions simply sit on a removable internal layer of elastic webbing, ensuring a comfortable user experience. Everything is wrapped in an intelligently designed quilted textile cover, enabling the entire assembly to be achieved without any toxic materials or bonding dissimilar materials together.SF-01 caters for smaller configurations, from a single seater, to 2-3 sofa modules for larger gatherings, while its distinctive solid wood armrests, tables and privacy screens extend the functionality. Aesthetically, SF-01 has a calm and minimal character with a classic geometric form, ensuring it remains relevant beyond the passing trends of the commercial workplace environment.