Modern residential lifestyle demands the prerequisite to sit / relax / recline – while eating, drinking, reading or watching TV – it’s a necessary part of daily existence. In rest mode we are half vertical, semi-reclined or sometimes in almost a horizontal position.Each option helps restore body function, relax muscles and take weight off the legs; a given for mental and physical regeneration in the frenetic and stressful lifestyle, which is manifesting as 2011 progresses.

With space becoming ever a more vital factor of life in South Africa, we have to consider very carefully the furnishing and equipping of our living areas for the needs of rest and relaxation. Obviously, aesthetics and appeal play a role but often what will deliver the most in terms of comfort and ergonomics is first choice.

In South Africa, imported options make up the balance of a healthy local manufacturing segment that has withstood the recessionary financial environment, particularly at the upper end on the scale. Choice will depend on the area to be furnished, the budget available and what style is right for the architectural signature viz. the daily needs of the household. The equation has to do with disposable income, individual preferences, aesthetics and intended use.

Considering the market sector targeted here, South African interior design and decoration – and the manufacturing industry that supports it – is well-equipped to offer a wide range of alternatives and our task is to feature those that constitute the top-end of the scale.

In this second annual FOCUS on designer seating – largely devoted to contemporary upholstered furniture – we examine ever-widening choices and offer enlightened opinions from those who ‘make the decisions’ in both manufacturing and decorating sectors.

How best can we define well-designed contemporary upholstery?
Wilh van der Merwe of Mbanci & Wilh+White Architects says: ‘Easy to use – easy to clean in the first instance, but then it all flies out of the window because fabrics today range from fun to serious, organic to plastic: almost anything can now be fabric and we love it. Ergonomics is the final decider; no matter how beautiful, if the chair does not receive its occupant with welcomed support it remains a piece of sculpture. Beautiful workmanship makes us fall further in love.’

Brendan Williams of the imported French Ligne Roset agrees: ‘In uncertain times, the principal goal in interior design has become to provide comfort, both physical and emotional. We have noticed a definite return to enveloping, feel-good pieces. As a rule of thumb, however, good contemporary upholstery design is innovative and pushes boundaries wherever possible. Quality is king, and the end-user is more aware and demanding of high quality, now more than ever before.’

May/June 2011 Issue

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