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Polder Sofa and Polder Compact
Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

In the home country of Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, the word 'polder' refers to low-lying flatlands, typically subdivided into fields serving various agricultural purposes, that have been reclaimed from the sea by means of dykes and drainage canals. With their flat surfaces, low-slung body and horizontal emphasis, both Polder sofas evoke the characteristic features of the polder landscape.

The large seat cushions of the Polder Sofa and Polder Sofa Compact form an extremely comfortable, asymmetrical seating surface that is flanked on both sides by the upholstered body. The shape of the body is what distinguishes the two sofas: a low armrest is integrated on one end of the Polder Sofa, while the other is bordered by an adjoining platform that also serves as a storage surface for magazines, books or trays. The Polder Sofa thus offers plenty of space to stretch out and relax, whether sitting or lying down.

The Polder Sofa Compact, by contrast, features a body with two armrests in different heights, which demarcate the smaller dimensions of the sofa. The higher armrest also makes it possible to sit comfortably in a sideways position – either for reading or watching television.

With their distinctively asymmetrical structure, both Polder sofas can be optionally configured with the higher armrest on the left or right side, making them adaptable to different spatial settings. Since the platform for the Polder Sofa is separately available, it can also be used as an ottoman.

The upholstered cushions and body of the sofas are covered with fabrics in carefully coordinated hues and weaves. In place of the standard upholstery fabrics usually used by Vitra, textiles developed exclusively for Vitra by Hella Jongerius are used as cover materials – thereby intensifying the subtle interplay of colours and textures that typifies the design.

A striking detail is added by the buttons, which were conceived by Jongerius as a collage of coloured plastic, aluminium and leather. They not only provide an attractive contrast to the soft woven fabrics, but also facilitate the easy removal of the upholstery covers for cleaning, thanks to a simple fastening device.

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Inner structure wooden frame
Seat cushions polyurethane foam with interactive pocket spring core, chamber cushions and polyester fleece
Back cushions polyurethane foam with polyester fleece and chamber cushions
Armrest cushions detached bolster, freely positionable, sand-weighted
Upholstery coordinated combinations of various colours and fabric types, removable
Ottoman wooden frame with polyurethane foam
The Polder Compact possesses customizable asymmetrical armrests, one higher than another.

green upholsteries combination

grey upholsteries combination

blue upholsteries combination

red upholsteries combination

Free samples (against deposit)

upholsteries combination

> green

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Dumet fabric sage / steel blue 28

Cosy 2 fabric reed green 17

Credo fabric dolphin / steel blue 20

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Aura fabric steel blue 05

Volo fabric green grey 08

> grey

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Track fabric mid-grey / cream 07

Molly fabric cement 03

Reed fabric stone 03

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Aura fabric sand 03

Volo fabric iron grey 14

> blue

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Dumet fabric indigo melange 31

Cosy 2 fabric dark blue 21

Tress fabric royal blue melange 18

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Reed fabric indigo 19

Volo fabric night blue 11

> red

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Track fabric brick / dark red 15

Cosy 2 fabric rusty orange 15

Reed fabric brick 10

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Aura fabric brick 77

Aura fabric poppy red 53

Volo fabric brick 77

Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015
Polder Sofa and Polder Compact Hella Jongerius, 2005 / 2015

Hella Jongerius

Hella Jongerius

The designer Hella Jongerius has become known for the manner in which she fuses industry and craft, high- and low-tech, traditional and contemporary. In 1993 she founded the Jongeriuslab studio, where she has pursued independent projects and also created products for major clients, including Maharam, Danskina, IKEA and KLM.

For Vitra, the Dutch designer has developed distinctive pieces such as the Polder Sofa and the East River Chair. Jongerius has consistently addressed the significance of colours and surfaces in contemporary design in her work with textiles, ceramics and furniture. She has been the Art Director for colours and materials at Vitra for many years and developed the Vitra Colour & Material Library – a system that enables the versatile combination of different materials and colours throughout the extensive Vitra product collection. Hella Jongerius has also written a book about this complex task entitled «I Don’t Have a Favorite Colour».

Works by Hella Jongerius have been shown at museums and galleries such as Design Museum (London), Galerie kreo (Paris) and the Moss Gallery (New York).