New Products - Seating

Interior designer, product designer, retailer. William Emmerson is a triple threat. But since launching his Ab Ova indoor-outdoor wooden seating, tables, and screen for Emmerson Troop, the British-born Angeleno has been concentrating on limited-edition furnishings. Futuristic silhouettes, which distinguish his first trio for Ralph Pucci International, reveal his philosophy that design "must work with the flow of life."

His space-age Spheriod, a 6-foot-high revolving seat that he calls a "microcosm of protection," is rotation-molded from recycled polyethylene, with a seat upholstered with Italian leather or fabric. The two other designs are vacuum-pressed plywood, lacquered in a choice of three standard colors. Slope, a 56-inch-long cocktail table, has a top that slopes up 3 ½ inches at either end. And the Ripple chaise longue is a "study in undulation," he says. "The lines finish in space, but the thought continues like a wave." Bar steel supports the cantilevered form. 212-633-0452; ralphpucci.net. circle 404

They may mingle well at parties. But can designers of furniture, graphics, and fabrics get along in the studio?

Such was the challenge faced by TZ Design principal Mark Goetz, visual communications-design consultant May Liu, and the Momentum Textiles team as they collaborated on Reflect upholstery. Liu previously created TZ Design's Web site, so a working relationship had been established. She and Goetz now seized on the energy of spatial relationships to come up with three textile patterns.

Momentum translated them into spun versions of its Eco-Intelligent polyester, which boasts Cradle to Cradle Gold certification. Shapes like abstracted chessmen seem to dance their way across Gesture, produced at 55 inches wide in eight colorways. The two 57-inch patterns are X-Factor, marking the spot in six colorways, and Matter, boasting chains of open ovals in five colorways.

To show the fabrics off, Goetz promptly returned to his furniture forte by designing a lounge chair, a bench, and an ottoman for Geiger International. Frames are powder-coated, laser-cut steel, with the bench adding walnut veneer to the mix. 800-366-6839; memosamples.com. circle 408 800-444-8812; hmgeiger.com. circle 409

Is cardboard the new black? Kraft Bank is certainly fashionable enough to make a case for it. Comprised of only cardboard and glue, the piece is of eco-conscious crafting and design—Tótora likens the "primitive" color to that of bark, stone, and earth. The bench measures nearly 71 by 20 by 16½ inches. 35-9134-1997; domingostotora.com.br. circle 726

Symi armchair in solid walnut and rawhide by Casamidy. circle 430

Taking in an art fair in Dakar, Senegal, designer Tord Boontje and Moroso art director Patrizia Moroso were mesmerized by furniture made with tightly woven nylon fishing net. Later, at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Boontje borrowed Senegalese techniques for his Shadowy outdoor furniture for Moroso. That line gave just a hint of what would follow at this year's Moroso booth: M'Afrique is a multilayered, cross-cultural contemplation, a showcase, Moroso says, for the "creativity of great artists and exponents of contemporary Africa."
Patricia Urquiola, Philippe Bestenheider, and Stephen Burks all made furniture contributions. At the heart of the installation, however, were designs inspired by the indigenous seating that first stoked Boontje and Moroso's passion. Much evolved from a serendipitous meeting with Birsel + Seck partners Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck, recently back in New York after two years in Dakar. Birsel's sketchbook became the basis for seven pieces, and Seck returned to Dakar to oversee craftspeople as they twisted and welded tubes of galvanized steel together, then wove them with nylon thread. The hammocklike Madame Dakar bench takes a wide stance on four legs, while the Gaal daybed is a study in structural deconstruction. The frames of Nopolou and Bayekou integrate rockers, but Bourguiba's rocker base capsule is painted with graphics adapted from indigenous decoration or present-day transit signage—an apt metaphor for a series born of journeying. 39-0432-577111; moroso.it. circle 421

Tartan chair in chromed steel and woven leather lace in coffee by Frag. circle 435

Venue modular seating with powder-coated steel legs in silver, synthetic fabric back in Havana and seat in Madura by Connection. circle 425

Scoop indoor-outdoor chair in hand-wrought iron by Downtown. circle 428

Some furniture classics get reissued—this one got restrung. Industrial-design pioneer Jacques Guillon created his Cord chair in 1953 and introduced this quintessence of weightless minimalism at the Triennale di Milano the following year. The chair's most arresting features were its seat and back, nothing more than tightly strung nylon cords.

Avenue Road has now rescued Cord from obscurity—with two important differences. The seat and back are strung with eight-strand braided polyethylene in either white or black. And the frame, formerly made of laminated plywood, is solid maple veneered in walnut or lacquered black. Dimensions are 22 inches wide, 23 deep, and 34 high. 416-548-7788; avenue-road.com. circle 418

Oppo lounge chair in steel lacquered black and wool felt in Trinity orange, Somerville green, and Oriel red by ICF Group. circle 424

Polar bench in solid steel by Davis Furniture Industries. circle 426

Read All Over chaise in painted wood and silk-screened cotton by VeroKolt. circle 436

Creative types of all stripes, not to mention nationalities, have joined the 2-year-old virtual collective that Bernhardt Design calls Global Edition. With this year's arrival of Claudia and Harry Washington, ultramodern El Salvadorans join the roster. As finalists in a design contest, the San Salvador—based couple won a trip to New York's International Contemporary Furniture Fair. The two tracked down Jerry Helling, Bernhardt Design creative director and chief brewmaster of the Global Edition project, who quickly brought them into the fold.

First challenge: Create seating that blends modern and classical sensibilities and snugly straddles residential and commercial spheres. The Washingtons brainstormed an improbable vision—a full-figured ballerina, who just happens to be a pig, pirouetting gracefully in her teeny toe shoes. But rather than satin slippers, polished-aluminum legs support the mixed-hardwood frames of the Calibra sofa (107 inches wide, 37 deep, and 27 high), loveseat (75 by 37 by 27), and chair (36 by 37 by 27).

Each sports a surprising V-shape void, drawing further attention to the colored stripes sewn onto the multiple-density foam-filled cushions, and accommodates up to six different suede, leather, or fabric patterns. 828-758-9811; bernhardtdesign.com. circle 364

Nenuphares spheres in foam-rubber and Kvadrat wool by Smarin. circle 429

Ocean rocker in birch laminate by Jolyon Yates. circle 446

Maluku lounge chair with embedded river stones by Carlo. circle 444

Maxalto's Anteo sofa in solid ash and mohair velvet in cream by B&B Italia. circle 433

Histography chair in hand-carved alder and linen appliqué by Haute House. circle 437

Hot Rider stool in carbon fiber and hook in anodized aluminum by Jordi Milà. circle 443

Fretwork lounge chair in silver-leafed rattan by the McGuire Furniture Company. circle 434