Californian practice Umé Studio put a contemporary spin on the traditional Japanese Zabuton cushions in their latest project, the Zabuton Sofa.
The cotton-filled cushions are a staple in tatami-fitted interiors, popularised in the 17th century as comfortable seating of the nobility. Taking a cue from the low furniture designed for raised floors in Japanese homes, the Zabuton Sofa is a minimalist, low-lying maple wood seat, featuring grooves to slot in accompanying triangular dividers that allows users to customise the sofa to their liking.
The dividers transform the sofa into a bed, a two-seater unit or a veritable couch, and come in various sizes and functions: as full-height backrests or a low table-like base. The cushions, a collaboration with Kyoto-based futon maker Takaokaya, can be draped across the seating area or against the partitions in single or multiple layers. Muted patterns and colors by fabric makers including Sou-sou, Kvadrat and Bingo Fushiori enhance the subtle elegance and craftsmanship of the wooden sofa. “The result is an experience combining the very intimate, low, simple and un-ostentatious quality of the Japanese traditional items — and the very generous, comfortable, and social aspect of modern couches,” the studio says.
Umé Studio was founded by Victor Lefebvre and Mei-Lan Tan, both designers and architects whose projects blur the line between art, craft and experience. More from their website and Instagram.
Photography © William Boice for Umé Studio