The sofa that never goes out of fashion
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It’s one of the world’s most recognised sofas, an icon and a mainstay in many international design museums, but what is it about the Camaleonda sofa? Why is it all over our Insta feeds? And why are we all swooning over this design from over five decades ago?
The Camaleonda’s recent renaissance all started in 2018, pre-pandemic, when Stella McCartney opened her new flagship Bond Street store in London, followed by Marc Jocobs when he opened his Madison Avenue pop-up store later that same year.
The Camaleonda’s recent renaissance all started in 2018, pre-pandemic, when Stella McCartney opened her new flagship Bond Street store in London, followed by Marc Jocobs when he opened his Madison Avenue pop-up store later that same year.
Interior view of the Stella McCartney’s flagship store on London’s Bond Street.
Source: Vogue.co.uk
At the centre of both stores and drawing as much admiration and attention as the designer’s collections themselves, was the beautiful and bulbous sofa, designed by renowned Italian furniture designer Mario Bellini.
Social media has since done the rest with the help of lifestyle expert Athena Calderone and model Chrissy Teigen, as well as a shifting focus on making our homes more inviting and aesthetically pleasing than ever before, swinging from minimalism to maximalism during the early pandemic 2020’s.
THE STORY BEHIND THE ICON
In 1970, then 35-year old Mario Bellini, with furniture manufacturer B&B Italia, released the Camaleonda sofa as an architectural feature that could transform space at a time when upholstered furniture in the home had stagnated into tired traditional stereotypes.
Mario Bellini
The original Camaleonda sofa consisted of low profile 90cm x 90cm seat modules with a backrest and armrest as well as cables, hooks and rings designed to enable unlimited modularity.
The design could easily adapt to the needs of those using it; it could be a linear sofa, a group of seats positioned around a table, a daybed, a series of separate lounge chairs, a corner sofa or a floating sculptural island used to centre an open-plan living space.
The design could easily adapt to the needs of those using it; it could be a linear sofa, a group of seats positioned around a table, a daybed, a series of separate lounge chairs, a corner sofa or a floating sculptural island used to centre an open-plan living space.
The name Camaleonda aptly describes both the shape and function of the sofa and is an amalgamation of two words. The first comes from the Italian word “camaleonte”, which means “chameleon”, and the second is “onda”, meaning “wave”.
The design was officially introduced to the international market in 1972, after appearing in that year’s New York Museum of Modern Art’s: “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” exhibition. The sofa helped shape and define the aesthetic and form of an entire era of interior design, a time that was also considered the most radical period in Italian design.
CULTKA'S CAMALEON REPLICA SOFA
We believe that remarkable design should be accessible to all, that's why we provide premium and affordable Designer Furniture Replicas to Australia’s design obsessed community. We are on our search for new and old designs to add to our collection we have been fortunate to work with a manufacturer to recreate our premium quality versions of the original sofas.
Cultka's Camaleon Replica Sofa
Our Camaleon Replica sofa has all the original features we know and love with some small edits, including a more elevated profile, making it more comfortable and accessible for all those that appreciate the iconic design. And to ensure your Camaleon Replica Sofa can adapt to its environment, just as was originally intended, a wide range of fabrics and colours are available both in-stock and on pre-order. To explore all available options click here.
If you would like to experience the Camaleon Replica sofa in real life, the design is currently on display in our Gold Coast showroom, simply book a consult today.