Vitra Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius

As a highly respected designer from the Netherlands, Hella Jongerius got an later than average start in her design career when she decided to go back to school in her late 20's. Hella has designed pieces for several companies worldwide such as Droog and IKEA and designed the sofa "Polder" and seating cushion "Bovist" for the Vitra Home Collection. Much of her work is featured in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.


With the quiet irony typical for her work, Hella Jongerius named her new sofa for Vitra, the Polder Sofa. In Holland, Polder refers to the artificial land reclaimed from the sea by means of dykes and drainage canals. The body of the Polder Sofa is just as low-lying, just as flat, and has just as much emphasis on the horizontal as does the Dutch landscape. For it, Hella Jongerius chose five carefully selected combinations of colors and fabric qualities, accentuating them with high-tech threads and large buttons.This play with colors and textures underscores the asymmetry of the piece, and together with the large buttons decorating the cushions are unmistakable trademarks of the Polder Sofa. Made of natural materials like bone and mother of pearl, the buttons are sewn to the cushions with bold broad cross stitches. Through the selection of the threads, Hella Jongerius creates a contrast of colors that further enhances the distinctiveness of this design feature.

Features:

• Available in green, red or cream upholstery
• Choose from small sofa or large sofa
• When facing sofa, armrest can be placed on the left or the right side
• Crafted of wooden frame with belt upholstery
• Backrest cushions are made from polyurethane chips and microfiber
• Textured seat cushion is made of Polyurethane foam and polyester wool
• Armrests are made of sand weights
• Buttons are crafted of natural materials
• Large sofa can be taken apart for transportation purposes

Specifications:

• XS Sofa Dimensions: 30.75" H x 89" W x 37.75" D
• XL Sofa Dimensions: 30.75" H x 115.25" W x 39.25" D
• XXL Sofa Dimensions: 30.75" H x 131" W x 39.25" D
• Seat Height: 16"

Design:

• Design is the process by which almost all objects in Vitra's surroundings are instilled with a specific design and function - from cars to paper clips, from clothing to chairs. And design does not just mean giving things a shape. Design creates the basis which enables things to function in the desired manner. It is a process in which complementary but often mutually contradictory requirements have to be met (comfort, technology, ergonomics, ecology, economics, aesthetics). Design can be successful only when the balance of all these factors is attained.

Quality:

• Once in the factory, Vitra staff manufacture furniture to precise standards, individually ensuring the quality of each product.
• Vitra has been certified for DIN EN ISO 9001: 2000.
• Vitra's focus on quality does not end at the factory door - they believe that providing clients with exceptional service is just as important as manufacturing furniture. In order to make certain Vitra clients enjoy consistently high quality in all Vitra products, they have set up their own test center which monitors products against criteria that are far more stringent than the statutory standards.

Ergonomics:

• Ergonomics is an applied science that studies the relationship between human beings and machines. Vitra produces furniture that responds to the ergonomic requirements of the body and as a consequence has a positive effect on health and well-being. All Vitra products (except for the experimental series Vitra Edition) have been tested by independent institutions. They comply with prescribed standards under the European Directive on VDU Work and are marked with the GS seal (= Geprüfte Sicherheit or Tested Safety, seal of the independent certification company LGA).

Ecology:

• Vitra's contribution to ecological conservation does not stop with a close examination of materials and processes. All aspects of the company's work involve ecological thinking.
• In 1991, Vitra set up an internal ecology committee to discuss environmental topics. This team identifies new tasks, and its project teams work together to find solutions.
• Vitra uses only non-CFC foams and adhesives free of toxic solvents; all possible materials are recycled. Wherever possible, Vitra uses recycled materials.
• Vitra's goal during production is to minimize noise and emission levels as well as to reduce waste. Packaging materials are kept to a minimum and re-used as often as possible.