An Enduring Icon

Antonio Citterio’s pioneering Groundpiece sofa for Flexform celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, its art-inspired form — a reflection of the heritage brand’s timeless aesthetic of subtle luxury — more suited for contemporary life than ever

Whether a sofa, a chair, a bed or a bench, what sets a Flexform piece apart is a sense of understated elegance. The heritage brand’s aesthetic of subtle luxury is expressed in uncluttered shapes and restrained materials — a language of simple, deconstructed and refined forms that Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio understands deeply after almost five decades of collaboration with Flexform.

A testament to Citterio’s fluency in such expression is the bestselling Groundpiece sofa, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Citterio’s avant-garde design pushed the boundaries of what a sofa could be, deconstructing the traditional form and replacing it with low, deep proportions and loose down-filled cushions. Its low-slung back means the sofa becomes a centrepiece, an innovative ‘soft surface in the centre of a space that becomes a welcoming island.

‘It was so simple, so non-traditional. But we made it anyway,’ says Citterio of the original design. ‘It seemed exciting to us to experiment with this marriage between art and a cushion, which is not exactly the most obvious marriage.’ Indeed, Citterio cites his recollections of Donald Judd’s ‘minimalist projects’ as a key inspiration, the American artist’s influence perhaps most obvious in the unconventional geometric armrest design, with its stripped-back, sculptural qualities. ‘It’s called Groundpiece because there is in fact a connection with the world of art,’ the designer notes.

Now, even after two decades, Groundpiece is more suited for contemporary life than ever, its low back and sectional design making it suitable for everything from relaxing to socialising, working and even eating meals. The armrests’ flat surfaces and shelves only increase the sofa’s functionality, while the option of cladding the metal units in padding, upholstery or the original cowhide adds to its status as part artwork.

Text / Simone Schultz

With its low-slung back and functional armrests, Groundpiece is a subtle centrepiece that can be configured according to needs and tastes, meaning it remains suitable for today’s lifestyles

Citterio was inspired by Donald Judd’s three-dimensional objects for the sofa’s minimalist, experimental armrests.

Interpreting Flexform’s language of simple, deconstructed and refined forms, Italian architect and designer Antonio Citterio pioneered Groundpiece, the avant-garde sofa that marries ‘art and a cushion’. Though untraditional for its time when it launched in 2001, it remains a bestseller two decades later.