Ouverture | Sofa

Pierluigi Cerri

The steel frame is airy and slender. The “T”-shaped beam is separated from the crossbars that support the seat in such a way that the padded part of the sofa appears to float in the air. The load-bearing beam, free of joints, is connected by aluminium profiles in a sophisticated play on interconnections that are clearly visible from the side. The high-tech aesthetic of the metal parts, all of which are finished with matt black epoxy powder paint, contrasts with the warmth and softness of the cushions.

Apparently simple in form, the cushions conceal a wealth of details: from the backrest buttons, a recurring detail of 1980's design and nod to traditional upholstery, to the slight tapering of the joint between the seat cushions and the backrest, for the optimum overlapping of the two elements. The cushions, with removable covers in either leather or fabric, are filled with goose down and polyester wadding with a polyurethane foam insert that ensures non-deformability and absolute comfort.

Ouverture | Sofa

Pierluigi Cerri
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Visuals shown are for illustration purposes only. Actual finish and/or pattern may vary due to unique characteristics of natural raw materials

Sofa version

Structure

Upholstery Info

Concept and Design

Poltrona Frau revisits Ouverture, the sofa designed by Pierluigi Cerri in 1982, distinctive for the contrast between its style inspired by industrial architecture and its soft cushions, in Pelle Frau® leather or in fabric. A modern sofa with a contemporary design, it stands out for its versatility and is equally at home in domestic living rooms, waiting rooms, offices, meeting scenarios and hospitality, where it is able to mesh with all manner of settings and styles.

Designed by
Pierluigi Cerri

Pierluigi Cerri has graduated at Milan Polytechnic. In 1974 he is promoting partner of Gregotti Associates. He is member of the Alliance Graphique Internationale, in 1976 he was in charged with the image of Biennale of Venice. He was editor of the magazines “Casabella” and “Rassegna”. He cured the image of the Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle of Bonn and he is responsible for the image of Grassi Palace in Venice.

He cured the design of some editorial collections for the most important Italian publishing houses such as Electa, Einaudi, Bollati Boringhieri, Fabbri, Bompiani, Skirà. He cooperated with the reviews “Lotus International”, Abitare, Domus, l’Espresso and he was in charged with the graphic design collection “Pagina” by Electa. He was curator with Pierluigi Nicolini of the Italian edition of “ Vers une architecture” by Le Corbusier, Milan 1974, he cured also “Pubblicità d’autore”, Electa, Milan 1983.

He designed several fittings in the most important museum venues: IDZ in Berlin, Palazzo della Promotrice delle Belle Arti in Turin, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, Palazzo a Vela in Turin, Design Zentrum in Stockyard and Berlin, Sogetsu Kaikan in Tokyo, Lingotto in Turin, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo of Madrid, Brera Academy in Milano, Science Museum of London, Forte del Belvedere in Florence, Kunst-und Austellungshalle in Bonn, Palazzo Grassi in Venice, Palazzo Reale in Milan, Nationalgalerie in Berlin, Moderna Museet of Stockholm, Moderna Art Museum in Paris, la Triennale of Milan.

Together with Gregotti & Associates he won several architecture competitions among which the Cultural Centre of Bélem in Lisbon, the transformation of Pirelli area in Milanese Bicocca and the arrangement of the area for the universal exhibition in Seville. Together with Alessandro Colombo in 1998 he cured the project for the system of signs for public spaces, for pavilions and for temporary structures of Lisbon Expo and he has renovated Marino Palace in Milan and planned new Trussardi stores.

He designed the cruise ships “Costa Classica”, “Costa Romantica” and “Costa Vittoria”, the yacht motor Blue Velvet to which the International Superyacht Award has been assigned. He cured the corporate identity of Prada. He elaborated the visual identity for Italia 90, Ferrari Auto, Lingotto, Pitti Immagine, Unifor, iGuzzini and Fratelli Guzzini, Palazzo Grassi, Pirelli and Saras. He drew some objects for Unifor B&B Italia, Poltrona Frau, Fontana Arte, Arflex, Molteni & C., Fusital and he planned scenic installations for Rai3 and Rai2. He cooperated also with Alenia, FIAT, Merloni and Grandi Stazioni for whom he planned exhibition systems and fittings. In 1994 he got the ""Award for good industrial design"" for good industrial design from the Industrie Forum Design Hannover, in 1995 the “Compasso d’Oro” for graphic image of Unifor.

In 1998 Pierluigi Cerri and Alessandro Colombo give birth to the Studio Cerri & Associates that works in the fields of architecture, industrial, graphic and interior design, of naval design and museum fittings.

Coverings and finishes