In theory, all seating is crafted for some level of comfort but few commit to the sit like Ireland’s Newry-based heritage furniture brand Orior. Using a moniker derived from the Irish word for nestle, the recently launched Néad series practices what they preach with a sumptuous sofa and lounge chair. Each piece’s architecture is expansive providing ample surface area for a deep seated experience enhanced by an anthropomorphic quality as elevated armrests lift the upholstered body toward the sitter in anticipation of a warm embrace. Long timber oak or walnut legs comprise the foundation of this monumental cushion – offered in boucle and wide corduroy velvet fabrics – while the pleated detail around the base tempers its oversized scale.
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Founded by Brian and Rosie McGuigan in 1979, this mini-collection invests in the art of comfort and returns the brand to its retro roots. Helmed by the founders’ son, creative director Ciaran McGuigan, Orior remains an intimate affair dedicated to dialogue with the finest purveyors of craft and the highest quality materials. This set is a direct result of a conversation between a multigenerational team of artisans as well as their catalog. “It’s an amalgamation of Orior’s heritage and the new generation of our design,” McGuigan says. “The oversized nature and boxy arms are nods to some of the pieces in the Orior archive, while the curved details on the legs and back cushion further the language of our contemporary pieces. The Néad series fits right alongside any other Orior piece.”
The most experienced makers are consulted to actualize concepts, with creative discoveries overseen by the production manager who is also the founders’ nephew. And the most significant design gesture was resolved with an in-studio social experiment. A variety of test-sitters sat in the slanted seats to develop the best arm angles and depth to facilitate the perfect, plush snuggle.
Adding to that sense of envelopment was the decision to round the rear cushion and narrow the legs to generate a gravity that pulls people in. “We’re constantly getting comments about its comfortability,” McGuigan adds. “It’s great to see people land in the chair and throw their legs up on the side, because that is exactly what we intended to happen when we designed the piece.”
Listen beautiful relax classics on our Youtube channel.
To learn more about the Néad series, visit oriorfurniture.com.
Source: design-milk