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Founded in the 1947 by a group of Pirelli technicians experimenting with new materials and manufacturing technologies, Arflex helped usher Italian furniture design into a new era. Officially launched in 1951, the brand became known for combining technical innovation with a refined modernist sensibility.
Among its most influential collaborators was architect and designer Cini Boeri, who established her independent practice in 1963 after working with Marco Zanuso. Across architecture, interiors and industrial design, Boeri explored how furniture and space could respond more intuitively to human behaviour, comfort and everyday life. Her work can be found in museums and collections internationally, and her achievements include the Compasso d’Oro awarded in 1979.
New Chromed Botolo
Designed by Cini Boeri in 1973, the Botolo armchair embodies a soft yet radical approach to comfort. Breaking away from rigid furniture forms, it cradles the body in an almost instinctive gesture. Now, the design features a new chromed base.
More than a decorative finish, the reflective surface accentuates the contrast between the precision of the structure and the generous volume of the seat. In this new version, Botolo’s essential qualities come sharply into focus, with material, form and function brought into clear alignment.
Bobo and Boborelax
Designed by Boeri in 1967, Bobo was among the earliest examples of a single-block seat made entirely from polyurethane foam, without an internal supporting frame. Boborelax, developed from the original design, joins Bobo in forming an unconventional family of elemental furnishings.
At the time, the collection was revolutionary not only for its use of new materials and frameless construction, but also for its rejection of prevailing aesthetic conventions. Free from rigid classifications, Bobo and Boborelax introduced a distinctly experimental approach to furniture design.
Strips
Designed in 1968, Cini Boeri’s Strips modular seating system transformed the furniture market and became one of Arflex’s most enduring designs. Awarded the Compasso d’Oro in 1979, it is represented in major museum collections around the world, including Triennale Milano and The Museum of Modern Art in New York.
The defining feature of Strips is its removable quilted cover, which incorporates the upholstery into a single continuous surface. Available as a sofa, bed and sofa bed, the system’s modular construction allows for an extensive variety of configurations. Boeri applied the same principle to the Strips bed, where the cover forms an integral part of the design: opening a simple zip reveals a fully made bed that requires only the addition of a pillow.
In the sofa version, the padding is similarly integrated into the cover and placed over a timber frame. Shaped polyurethane foam in varying densities provides support and comfort. Through Strips, Boeri demonstrated her enduring interest in innovative materials, adaptable living and designs that could improve the quality of everyday life.
For more information, visit: https://www.spacefurniture.com.sg/
