Maybe you have come across the iconic Dune sofa on your timeline before. Musical artists seem to be extremely enthusiastic when it comes to this piece of furniture. But why? How is it possible that this 50 year old sofa emerged from relative obscurity into stardom? And how do the fans of the sofa, particularly from the music industry, contribute to its ongoing popularity and cultural significance?
Fig. 1: Pierre Paulin - Source: © Paulin, Courtesy of Paulin
The Dune sofa is designed by the late designer Pierre Paulin. The sofa is experimental in its design and emulates the shape of dunes. The various modular parts can be arranged in different ways to accommodate the likings and needs of the user. To understand the philosophy behind this sofa, we need to take a look at Pierre Paulin’s general approach to design.
Pierre Paulin was trained as a sculptor and therefore viewed his furniture designs as sculptures; something you should be able to admire from all sides. Another key aspect of Paulin’s designs is the hiding of ugly little details and technical structures. The French designer achieved both of these goals by using a skeleton which would then be padded by foam and a stretchy material. These materials used were, like the designs themselves, experimental and often derived from other industries like the automotive sector.
The Dune was part of a series of furniture designed by Paulin, which not only included sofas but also tables and bookshelves. The experimental nature of the designs and relatively weak economy of the time resulted in the furniture never becoming reality in Pierre Paulin’s lifetime. The only people who got to enjoy the furniture at the time were Paulin’s family, who used the concept pieces. In 2009, after Paulin’s passing, his family decided to try to actually bring the designs to the market. Pierre’s son Benjamin explained that working on his dad’s furniture was a way to reconnect with his father. In the meantime, museums like the Centre Pompidou began to showcase the experimental prototypes, further shining a light on the designer that was Pierre Paulin.
In 2013, the Paulin family launched the label ‘Paulin Paulin Paulin’. The label however is not meant as a brand. The main focus of Paulin Paulin Paulin is to ensure the designers legacy, without a prominent monetary motivation. In line with this belief is the goal of the label to have connections with the people owning the furniture, resulting in a community rather than a brand. This philosophy, in combination with the small production, creates an exclusive atmosphere around the designs. This exclusivity is certainly not lessened by collaborations with esteemed brands such as Louis Vuitton or events like the Paris Olympics.
The earlier collaborations with musical artists helped the furniture gain popularity with a wider audience. Benjamin Paulin’s musical ties most likely contributed to the collaborations with these artists. The likes of Frank Ocean and Travis Scott have posted images with the Dune sofa which both attracts attention and creates further exclusivity to the piece. The connection between these artists and the sofa have gone so far that some have even dubbed the furniture piece the ‘Frank Ocean sofa’. With design becoming more mainstream, furniture can be seen as the new watch or car in today's culture. Not only is the Dune sofa a piece of furniture but it can be seen as some sort of trophy.
Like many great artists, Pierre Paulin’s work got more recognition after his passing. By both his family’s hard work and exhibitions, his designs gained enormous popularity. This esteem grew with collaborations with brands and more notable, musical artists. The Dune sofa is perhaps the most striking example of Paulin’s experimentation and admiration. The sofa is more than just furniture; it is a design piece, a part of a community, and most importantly, a continuation of Pierre Paulin’s legacy.
Fig 2: Timothy Doyon © Judd Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
For more of Paulin’s work I would suggest taking a look at the Paulin Paulin Paulin Instagram account (@paulinpaulinpaulin).
