Fifth-century philosopher Plato once coined the phrase “necessity is the mother of invention.” That sentiment has rung true throughout history, and it was no different for French designer Pierre Paulin. Once an aspiring sculptor, Paulin suffered a severed tendon in his right arm during a fight in his teenage years that put an end to his sculpting dreams.

Forced to forge a new path for himself, Paulin enrolled in the École Camondo design school in Paris and began studying under renowned furniture designer Marcel Gascoin. He developed an interest in Scandinavian and Japanese design, as well as works from Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, and others. Paulin later went on to become a lasting influence on the furniture design scene throughout the 1960s and 70s with iconic works, such as the Mushroom (1959), Tongue (1963), and Ribbon (1966) chairs.

Although it wasn’t Paulin’s most iconic work, it’s now one of his lesser-known designs – the Pacha Collection – that’s having a renaissance. Thanks to GUBI, a world-class, Danish design company founded by Lisbet and Gubi Olsen in 1967, this iconic collection is finally receiving proper recognition. After reissuing the Pacha Lounge Chair in 2018, GUBI is expanding the collection to include new designs, such as the Pacha Lounge Chair with armrests, Pacha Sofas, and the Pacha Ottoman.

 

 

“Pierre Paulin created so many iconic designs, it seems wrong that the Pacha Collection has been edited out of his story,” said Jacob Gubi, Owner and Creative Director of GUBI. “GUBI is delighted to reissue this timeless and characterful collection and play a part in building Paulin the legacy he deserves.”

What makes the Pacha Collection and Pacha Lounge Chair so special is the staying power behind Paulin’s original concept. Designed without the constraints of legs to allow for low-level living, the Pacha Lounge Chair places an emphasis on comfort, without sacrificing stylistically. Paulin utilized new innovations in bent plywood and foam technology to create the collection’s signature curved design. He later traced the foam and upholstery with inwardly inclined stitching lines, further enhancing the furniture’s shape.

A strong suit of this collection is the flexibility to fit within a number of interior settings. The modules offer endless combinations, making it easy to configure the pieces to fit your space, taste, and style.

Paulin’s vision blended contemporary style with the aesthetic of the 1970s, and this installment is no different. This unique collection is available in a wide range of upholstery fabrics and a base in the original pearl gold and matte black colors. Like everything Paulin ever created, this collection is unique and functional with “two little drops of poetry.”

 

Originally designed for his own home as a lounge chair he could also use for meditation, the MR01 Initial Chair by woodworker Mathias Steen Rasmussen unites traditional craftsmanship with original ideas in a simple form that is at once familiar and yet strikingly modern. Having served his apprenticeship making the designs of the great Danish masters with his own hands, he has focused on hand-crafting unique pieces and limited runs until now. This is the first of his own works to be translated for production.

 

 

The name ‘MR01 Initial’ pays homage to the Danish master’s practice of naming their designs with their own initials followed by a number and, in a subtle play on words, also references the fact this chair represents Rasmussen’s debut production piece. Like many of the Danish masters before him, Rasmussen measured his own body to optimize the MR01 Initial Chair’s dimensions. The open triangle profile of the frame – made from walnut or FSC-certified oak – is constructed without a single screw, relying instead on artisanal cabinetmaking techniques such as finger joints and wedged mortise and tenon joints. Its considered ergonomic design – with a boucle-covered lumbar pillow for added comfort – supports various sitting positions. As well as lending lightness, the rope construction allows air to pass through the frame, for a cool and comfortable sitting experience on warmer days.

 

Theresa Rand paired mouth-blown glass with brass stilts (échasse in French) for a mesmerizing silhouette that elevates decor in every sense.

The Échasse Collection, now available in amber mouth-blown glass, and waiting to be filled with your favorite flowers, fruits and decorative objects.