This truly extraordinary modular sofa system is the
Via Lattea by Mario Bellini for Meritalia
This is what they say about it
“The magic “Stardust” created in 2007 for Meritalia returns this year in the pure white and diaphanous fabric named “Via Lattea”: the evolution of the range of padded furniture, again literally filled with transparent bubbles of pure air and sidereal light.
To the various Stardust shapes are added here the “Mappamondo” (Globe), the “Buco bianco” (White Hole), the “Galassia” (Galaxy), still in the experimental stage, and many others that are due to follow in this project.
This is a project based on the pursuit of lightness and simplicity applied to the elastic balance between internal pressure and the dynamic loads of the body mediated by the form of the coverings. It is a project that goes against the general trend and is in constant evolution, based on the use of substances and materials that are alien to the traditional world of padded furniture.
The “air ravioli” deriving from the packaging sector, the lightweight stainless steel mesh of the industrial filters, and the materials in recycled fibres used in construction or for the transportation of sugar, grains or stones are extremely low-cost and high-pressure technical materials, which never cease to amaze and impress with their practical and appealing results.
A fine example is the strong white fabric with distanced warps and wefts in black carbon threads (originally used as earthing for electrostatic currents), which has produced indestructible and surprisingly elegant padded furniture, reminiscent of that of Chicago gangsters in the Thirties.”
Blimey!!!
