Milan 2014: a three-metre-long sofa created by Peugeot Design Lab splices together a piece of volcanic stone and carbon fibre to create a mix of the old and new (+ slideshow).
The design arm of the French car manufacturer mined a single block of volcanic stone from the Auvergne region in France. The material is known for its ability to filter water and was created by volcanic eruption 11,000 years ago.
The team worked with stone cutters who created a flat surface to allow the other half of the sofa to be connected. A seat section was then carefully chiseled out of the stone and polished to a shiny finish, in contrast to the rough, dulled edges of the surrounding rock.
The latitude and longitude coordinates marking the origin of the stone have been chiselled into the material.
"The Onyx sofa is an illustration of a new concept that we intend to explore," said Cathal Loughnane, the head of Peugeot Design Lab.
"Unique pieces of furniture, made to measure, to suit the choice, origin and personality of the customer, but which always respects a common idea."
The Carbon Fibre section makes up the larger proportion of the sofa. The material was wrapped around a wooden frame before being attached to the stone. This section also has the coordinates of where the piece was made engraved onto the surface. The whole process took 70 days to complete.
"By means of a sharp straight cut, this contrast is powerful, voluntary and assumed in the way we look at the materials and how they are used," said Gilles Vidal, Peugeot's styling director.
According to the team, the sofa weighs more than 400 kilograms and is available in other materials.
Onyx will be showcased alongside seven other sculptures in Milan next week. The series will include lamps, shelves, armchairs and tables and contain a mix of materials including quartz crystal and aluminium, black palm and basalt.
