several manufacturers, including Italian

manufacturers, it was finally Ligne Roset

Contract that won the project by presenting

the most outstanding design at the best

price. "We competed because we enjoy new

challenges," says director Max Flageollet,

"but also because we wanted to rub shoulders

with an architect of excellence with whom we

had never worked before."

Located for more than 150 years in Briord,

Ligne Roset is known throughout the

world for the quality and elegance of its

contemporary furniture collection designed

by iconic designers, including Jean Nouvel,

Pierre Paulin, Inga Sempé, Philippe Nigro,

Pascal Mourgue, Didier Gomez, Noé

Duchaufour-Lawrance, or the Bouroullec

brothers, among others. In addition to its

craftsmanship, the Group can now pride itself

on its custom-made projects carried out by its

Ligne Roset Contract department. Dedicated

to the development of international luxury

hotels, cruise lines, but also to high-end shops

and other high-profile places, this department

studies and produces high-end furniture, built

for large or small series. One example of this

is the Station F project: 19, 26, and 39-foot

sofas that are aesthetically pleasing, very

comfortable, highly durable and timeless.

CUSTOMIZED AND OVERSIZED

With regard to the specifications and in close

collaboration with Wilmotte designers, the

research and development unit of Ligne

Roset Contract has produced a prototype

that includes three adjustable modules: a

central body, intermediate blocks of varying

size and two streamlined ends. Sculpted by

a machine, these modules in compact foam

adapt to each other according to the principle

used in tables with extensions.

Delivered by a special carrier, the

KingSofa must be mounted on site but

can be disassembled at will, since it must

be removable, a requirement from the

developer! After several tests, a decision

was made not to glue the Dutch felt on the

foam, but to incorporate zippers, designing

the seams of the covers to keep the fabric

taut, and avoid its deformation. It is a winning

technical process. "This is the kind of challenge

we like" says Max Flageollet, who is unaware

that another challenge awaits him, on a whole

other scale.

3

– 3–

THE DESIGN OF COLIVING

SPACES

For the young entrepreneurs of Station F,

Xavier Niel had the same architect build 600

housing units next to the incubator. @Home

is the name of this collective habitat designed

as a coliving platform. Each apartment has

a shared kitchen, three bathrooms and six

bedrooms measuring 22 square feet each!

The design of these "cells" is a tour de force,

but the Wilmotte designers decided to place

an order directly to Ligne Roset Contract

after an inspiring visit to its factory in the

Rhône-Alpes region.

This time, the project requires minimalist

furniture: a Japanese-style bed base and

storage drawer, a deep headboard, a stool/

bedside table, a wardrobe and a mirror. The

manufacturer is in charge of creating functional

and durable furniture. Outside of the digital

world, the occupants want to relax in a natural

cocoon mostly made of wood. "Our mission

was to adapt the Wilmotte designers' drawings

to the client's budget; in eight months, the

concept has been finalized in form and content,"

explains Max Flageollet, whose teams have

worked together from the early stages of the

project, a brilliant, economical idea. The core

idea: to supply high-end furniture, making use

of the industrial tool.

R

E

P

O

R

T

A

G

E