Pedro Almodóvar Inspires a New Roche Bobois Collection
This article is part of our Design special report previewing Milan Design Week.
Known for palettes that are as flamboyant as his characters, the Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar uses color as an actor with its own dramatic energy. Recently, he teamed up with Roche Bobois, also renowned for its splashy color sense, to modify classic works from the French furniture company's catalog that will be introduced in Roche Bobois's Milan showroom during the city's Design Week.
The Lounge sofa, for example, a precursor of the company's modular Mah Jong seating that was originally designed in 1971 by Hans Hopfer, is being reissued in an edition of 50 for this occasion. Each sofa will feature iconic images from Almodóvar movies and film posters, and will be signed and numbered by the director.
Also on view will be the 11-year-old Bubble sofa, designed by Sacha Lakic. Bubble will be shown in four new colors — sky, moss, sun and fiery red — that are heroes of Mr. Almodóvar's most recent film, 'The Room Next Door,' a meditation on friendship and death starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, which was released late last year. (The sofa itself has a cameo in that movie, popping up in a scene set in a gym.) A rendering of Roche Bobois's updated Lounge sofa, which is being reissued in a limited edition and has the bright colors and iconic images from Almodóvar movies and film posters.
A sideboard from Roche Bobois's Rondo collection has been updated with new door panels featuring designs inspired by film posters and Almodóvar's own still-life photos. The director also designed rugs and cushions that have movie poster motifs, including the floral pattern representing 'Volver' (2006), the heavily mascaraed eyes from 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' (1988) and the deadly stiletto signifying 'High Heels' (1991).
Apart from the limited-edition Lounge sofa, the collection will be available for purchase in mid-September, in Roche Bobois stores.
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