Introducing the Max
Modernist style in contemporary furniture is as much about what’s left out as what’s included. For the Max this balance is crucial – the understated style and clean efficiencies providing classic design with a twist (and a lift).
For Hildy Kovacs inspiration came from a classic Poliform model. “I fell in love with it years ago,” she says. “But I knew I had my work cut out for me adapting the design to fit in the New Zealand market.”
“Using inspiration in a positive and productive manner is vital,” says Hildy. “There’s a fine line that separates an original take on a classic design with that of a mere bland imitation. You need to work hard to maintain a balance.”
How does she do it? The experienced designer believes it’s a matter of “having the ability to evoke an object while evolving it, to provide a new version, practical and functional, with a fresh approach to the traditional look and feel of the piece.”
“It’s not always an easy ask,” she says. “But it’s worth investing extra time in the design stage. The challenge (of the Max), as with many of our products, was to keep the feature understated – to not disturb the main design characteristics.”
She accomplished it with the help from some clever engineering. The hinged seat back is a major development here, and the boost in visual impact and seating functionality has been well received by early adopters.
“Getting the back height options and the optimum angle and foam density correct was vital. We needed to find a mechanism that would fit the proposed dimensions – which was no easy task.”
“Eventually we sourced a hinge that would fit the frame and that not only extended by 75mm when fully opened but, in doing so, kept fabric slack to a minimum while providing ease of everyday use.”
This versatility in use was important for Hildy, and she states that “the narrow arm and timber slab foot provide a compact footprint and the luxurious cushioning looks great with both leather and fabric finishes.”
“The narrow armed version came about for several reasons,” she says. “It turns the settee from an imposing statement piece, one you could only envisage on a concrete floor in a modern apartment, to a more refined elegant settee that can enhance any size room and compliment any architectural look.”