At once sophisticated and playful, the Bao collection of pouffes was intended to imbue even the most formal settings with a charming atmosphere.
Designed by New-York based firm Alda Ly Architecture (ALA) for furniture brand HBF, the collection was named for the Chinese word that is a homonym for bun, bag, precious, and baby.
“The multiple meanings of the word ‘bao’ include expressions of preciousness and playfulness, and we designed a pouf that exudes both,” said Alda Ly, founder and principal of ALA.
Bao displays a sculptural silhouette that channels simplicity as well as a sophisticated structure. The collection has six base archetypes – small, medium, large half-round, stacking, low loop handle and high loop handle, as well as two seat heights – a high variation for working and a low one for lounging.
A variety of upholstery options adds another layer of customisation, ranging from woven textiles, to full-grain leather and performance coated textiles by HBF.
Tania Chau, Director of Interior Design at ALA, said “The details of this collection are important. We wanted the design to be impactful both at first glance and also up close, so we explored ideas for decorative detail options that could provide visual interest at a smaller scale.”
“This manifested in several ways – as a concentric quilted seat top, as a signature seam stitch and as a protective metal cap on the stacking model.”
Photos: Pippa Drummond
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