It all starts with a competition...
At the end of 2023, we launched our first competition for designers and design students. We called on the creative and visionary perspectives of these creators to imagine a sofa capable of responding to the new lifestyles of today and tomorrow.
After receiving more than 110 applications, we brought together a jury of experts in early 2024 to select the winners. Three prizes were awarded: the Grand Prize, the Innovation Prize, the Eco-responsibility Prize and a special mention for emotion.
It was in this context that our collaboration began with Pierre-Louis Gerlier , the designer of the Suisse sofa, the big winner of the competition.
One sofa, 10 uses
Pierre-Louis has imagined, for his sofa of tomorrow, a piece of furniture with three modules (1 main bench, 2 armchairs and 1 multifunction panel) that can be moved away and brought closer together, to offer a multitude of configurations , ideal for a moment of sharing or relaxation ; a nod to the Swiss army knife , with which he had fun in his childhood.
This sofa is a real centerpiece of a living room. It allows you to sit, sleep, isolate yourself, work, but also gather and dine together. It offers more than 10 configuration options thanks to modules that can be moved as the user wishes.
Deeply inspired by the architecture and art of living of the Middle East , Pierre-Louis wanted to create a space for sharing rather than an object in itself.
The winning project completely reflects consumers' expectations regarding new uses and it is in this that La Maison Convertible found itself in its reflection on the sofa of tomorrow.
"The "Suisse" sofa takes up the challenge of offering a multitude of layout possibilities. It aims to optimize space requirements in the home as much as possible, going well beyond the traditional uses of furniture" - Pierre-Louis Gerlier
Explore the different modules of the Swiss
A collaborative project between Pierre-Louis Gerlier and La Maison Convertible
Design in Italy
In the summer of 2024, the La Maison Convertible teams accompanied Pierre-Louis to Italy, to one of our partner factories . It was at this time that the winner was able to discover the first prototype of his imagined sofa ; A strong moment rich in exchanges , to agree on a final version of the Swiss.
Discovering Pierre-Louis Gerlier
Coming from a triple training in carpentry, architecture, and urban planning , the designer works in the design of original furniture and objects.
From a young age, he sought to develop his experiences abroad to enrich himself with places with strong and distinctive characters that fascinate him, like Beirut , Barcelona or Hong Kong . His travels allow him to discover his passion for working with space , more than for the object itself.
Pierre-Louis likes to divert objects by drawing inspiration from the world of childhood and play.
But beyond the design of objects, Pierre-Louis is also involved in numerous architectural projects throughout the world. For him, architecture is a way to participate, as a citizen, in an era that is as complex as it is fascinating.
Paris Design Week
Because it was important for us to highlight this remarkably intelligent and stylish piece of furniture, we are participating in Paris Design Week in September 2024, during which we will be previewing the Suisse sofa in our store located on Boulevard Sébastopol . For the occasion, Pierre-Louis was able to explain his inspirations with professionals in the sector and enthusiasts of interior decoration and design.
