Brera by Poliform, Design Jean-Marie Massaud
Brera by Poliform, Design Jean-Marie Massaud

Brera, in name and in practice. The new sofa from Poliform plays intentionally with the name of the design district par excellence in Milan, where creativity, art and culture set the rhythm of the architecture and the atmosphere. A moniker chosen to pique the curiosity, as well as to create a direct link to the source of design inspiration. Jean-Marie Massaud has designed this upholstered furniture system by imagining a destination, more than a décor: Brera is a place in which to gather, to meet, to relax. A space in which and around which the life of the home gravitates, in its moments of endless bustle or peace and quiet.

The affinity with the Brera quarter speaks loud and clear, shaping the character and style of this composition of sofas. “Brera is decidedly Milanese – says Massaud. – A classic sofa, in a certain sense, but also very modern in terms of a way of living. This simple alchemy or balance mixes the most timely moods and energies of life, associating them with an elegant, very calm vision.”

Its linear design, the discreet, enveloping presence, the sophisticated finishes developed in the workmanship, all emulate that immortal segment of Milan where history and experimentation meet, connecting past and future. As it pays homage to an urban district, Brera by Poliform also brings architectural references into the living area, games of volume, alternating full and empty zones. These are all stylemes that fit into a vision of contemporary habitation.

Starting with the two-seat version, many configurations come to life in a natural way, from the classic linear sofa to curved arrangements, which seem to generate a piazza inside larger rooms or lounges. Every element of the system reveals the common denominator of a base clad in cowhide and protruding slightly from the upholstery, an unexpected and refined presence that enhances the overall image.

It is supported by aluminium feet emerging from the volume and a metal structure (both coated in matte nickel brown). This ensemble grants lightness to the system, which appears to hover above the floor with an airy effect also boosted by the Slim armrest with shelf, ready to be accessorized with an elm wood tray. While on the one hand Jean-Marie Massaud has brought an architectural approach to design, on the other he has not overlooked the primary importance of the comfort a sofa must supply. Brera is thus surrounded by soft cushions that give form to the back and are reinforced in the seat, where expanded polyurethane and springs bring the technology and comfort of bed structures into the living area. Details in cowhide and a new collection of fabrics bring out the couture effect of the stitching.