Flexform’s ‘Supermax’ sofa is a contemporary scene stealer

In partnership with Flexform

When Italian designer Antonio Citterio conceived the now-iconic ‘Max’ sofa for Flexform back in 1983, it was the first time he had incorporated organic forms into a more traditional structure. ‘Until the end of the 1970s, I had always followed two schools of thought: the American way of the Eameses, and the rationalist one of Giuseppe Terragni,’ he explains.

‘I worked with designs that were symmetrical and perpendicular. With the “Max”, I confronted the idea of being asymmetrical, with a “freer” form. At the same time, it still feels like my work in terms of memories of the rationalist school of thought.’

The sofa’s sculptural design is defined by a kidney bean-shaped seating platform resting on a tubular frame, with an off-centre cylindrical backrest. It acquired legendary status after Flexform released a series of images of a version with a striped backrest at the base of the spiral staircase at Milan’s Triennale. Photographed by Gabriele Basilico, under the art direction of Natalia Corbetta, the sofa appeared to be both in harmony and in contrast with the architecture.

Flexform ‘Supermax’ sofa reimagines a classic

Citterio and Flexform recently joined forces to revisit the idea of the ‘Max’, conceiving the ‘Supermax’ sofa (captured here at Milan’s Teatro Continuo) as a contemporary interpretation of the original 1983 version. ‘It started with us planning an exhibition to showcase photographs of Flexform’s products,’ recalls Citterio. ‘Looking through the materials, we asked ourselves, why not launch “Max” again?’ 

While maintaining the distinctive character of the original, the contemporary version has been reimagined to allow for more domestic use, with the frame lowered and the seat redesigned and enhanced with additional padding (an outdoor version is also available). ‘It is no longer a sofa from the early 1980s, as this was an object whose function was “conditional”, it wasn’t directly for resting or relaxing; “Supermax” today can be for resting and relaxing,’ says Citterio.

While ‘Max’ was a social piece of furniture, a sculptural presence in a space, ideally intended for use in waiting rooms, offices and executive lounges, the ‘Supermax’ is more open-ended, able to adapt to public and private environments with the same ease, and aspiring to a more central and multifunctional living room role. 

‘The “Max” is for waiting: you can sit down and wait for someone, or talk with someone briefly,’ says Citterio. ‘But it does not become personal. The “Supermax”, on the other hand, can really become yours.’ 

flexform.it