Michel Ducaroy’s Togo sofa has been the talk of the town for generations. Over time, it became one of the undeniable benchmarks of the Mid-Century Modern style, and there are those who cannot speak of modernism as a trend without mentioning this particular design. It’s worth a close look for a moment; That’s why, in this installment of Manhattan Home Design Reviews, we want you to think with us about why this piece can be considered “irreverent” for the context of its time and why it still looks so original after several decades since its launch.
It’s true that since it first appeared, many people had something to say about the Ducaroy sofa, mainly because it was unlike anything they had seen before. The French creator knew that at that time (1973) the way of designing sofas was too tied to certain guidelines, paradigms, archetypes, and market rules. For this reason, practically all modern sofa models had much in common and fell into the same category due to their great similarities. Many innovated in materials, details, and sometimes superficial aesthetic aspects, but no one had taken such a risky leap.
Overcoming Barriers
After the launch of the Togo sofa, many were intimidated by being in the presence of an object that was tremendously ahead of its time. It was a fascinating, interesting, novel… the type of sofa that you wouldn’t expect to find in a living room, but that was still appealing and with an undeniable magnetism. Its popularity spread, and as soon as consumers, design enthusiasts and lovers of modernism discovered the benefits of this piece, they began to testify to its greatness. In a few words, it can be said that using a Ducaroy sofa is a very particular experience: it’s like sitting on a cloud.
The pillow shape that makes up its structure was its main hook. The author himself said that the design was “a tube of toothpaste folded over on itself like a stovepipe and closed at both ends”, a description that represented a direct testimony of that irreverence to which we have been referring, which aroused the fascination of the users. It didn’t take long for people to discover that the Togo sofa’s raison d’être had nothing to hide: it was a model made for comfort, in which you can sit or lie on all day, that looked amazing from any angle, and from the first glance you already knew that it wouldn’t go out of style so soon.
The three densities of high-quality polyether foam that make up the body of this model are combined to make the frame and deliver an ergonomic design for true enveloping comfort. The Togo sofa has very outstanding details, such as its superior craftsmanship, and its soft and durable chenille fabric, stain resistant and easy to clean. The sofa ended up becoming the favorite of children, pets, adults, and the best friend of your guests in the house and even the office. In conclusion: it’s an irreverent sofa, yes, but in the best way imaginable.
The Michel Ducaroy sofa and many other models are available in the Manhattan Home Design catalog.