Bistro modular sofa design Åke Axelsson and Ralf Lindberg – Gärsnäs

Bistro sofa is a modular sofa that can be ordered by the metre in various versions, a sofa for lobbies, restaurants and lounges.

BISTRO MODULAR SOFA

Simplicity is a must as we wait, greet, sit down for a moment or have a meeting. The Bistro sofa is a modular sofa that can be ordered by the metre in various versions; a workhorse that goes about its business without making a fuss.

“Such products are seldom seen in glamorous contexts, but they are numerous in the real world. They provide both joy and work for designers,” says Ralf Lindberg, who together with Åke Axelsson designed the Bistro sofa. Individually, both have designed many sofas for Gärsnäs in their own unique projects. But this type of sofa has not been manufactured at scale until now.

“There is a great need for discrete furniture that can suit all possible settings: a sofa for lobbies, restaurants and lounges. It’s not a social sofa, but a sofa that’s more like a chair,” says Ralf Lindberg, who has designed many lovely pieces of furniture for Gärsnäs since the 1980s.

“We based it on Åke’s principles and smart composition. I’ve looked after the dimensions and radiuses, added something to the legs. Åke has been involved and gave his input.” That meant keeping a tight line for the sake of production, while offering more character and finer details. The Bistro system is based on end and middle sections. There are two kinds of seats. Full back or backrest with a space to the seat. The reverse side can be fully upholstered, if the sofa is to be placed in the middle of a room.