Few contemporary sofas have managed to combine architectural presence and relaxed seating as convincingly as Patricia Urquiola’s Tufty-Time. Designed for B&B Italia in 2005, the series translates familiar upholstered furniture into a low, modular composition intended for a more informal way of living. Urquiola herself described the starting point as a reconsideration of Chesterfield and capitonné seating, particularly through their interpretations of the 1960s and 1970s.

Design

This example consists of three elements, allowing the sofa to be arranged as a substantial seating landscape. Broad seats, low proportions and generously padded backrests create its characteristic horizontal profile. Rather than conventional button tufting, Urquiola divided the upholstery into a rhythmic grid of softly rounded rectangular sections. Deep seams articulate each volume and continue across the seats, backrests and arms, giving the composition a coherent architectural structure.

Modularity was central to the original Tufty-Time concept. B&B Italia developed the system around an ottoman, supplemented by central, corner and terminal elements with different armrest configurations. This approach permits anything from conventional sofas to chaise longues, corner arrangements and open island seating. Here, the three substantial elements can form an expansive conversation setting, particularly suited to an open-plan living room, gallery-like residence or hospitality interior.

A newly applied woven upholstery in a warm rust-red tone emphasises the sculptural divisions without distracting from the form. Its subtle darker weave becomes especially apparent at close range, adding texture across the broad upholstered surfaces.

More than twenty years after its introduction, Tufty-Time retains the informal character that distinguished it from conventional upholstered seating. This large three-part configuration gives Urquiola’s modular idea considerable presence and offers considerable freedom in how the individual elements occupy a room.

Condition

The sofa has been professionally reupholstered and presents in very good condition.

Separate dimensions:

- Element 1 with backrest: 64 x 140 x 145 cm
- Element 2 with backrest: 64 x 170 x 106 cm
- Element 3 : 32 x 101 x 145 cm