Oslo, Norway
The Norwegian design office Snøhetta, which won three American Architecture Awards from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design in 2025, has devised an innovative, sustainable, and stunning new modular sofa system for MDF Italia.
Under the direction of Marius Myking, Snøhetta’s Director of Product Design, Array reimagines the conventional sofa, offering maximum flexibility and comfort in a considerate manner.
The system comprises slim, interconnected modules that seamlessly adapt to various contexts, allowing unique configuration and spatial possibilities.
Each element of Array has been thoughtfully designed with disassembly in mind, facilitating repair, replacement, or recycling when necessary, thereby promoting longevity and reducing the material usage over time.
By embracing injection molding as a manufacturing method for the base, Array optimizes material usage while incorporating a high percentage of recycled materials.
This approach results in a lightweight structure with a hollow core, minimizing the environmental footprint without compromising quality or comfort.
The bio-foam covering, containing 51% recycled material, is removeable and can be replaced.
Additionally, elastic ropes have been integrated underneath each element, ensuring quick and easy replacement of the textile.
Array prioritizes comfort across multiple levels–ergonomic, planning, contextual, and usability.
Its ergonomic design ensures optimal proportions and softness, catering to diverse domestic and contract settings.
Since the selection of different modules is limited, it facilitates ease of planning, offering a balance between versatility and simplicity.
Moreover, Array’s reduced module width enhances contextual comfort, seamlessly integrating into any space through flexible configurations.
While Array offers comfort at the highest level, it also introduces a new paradigm in furniture design. It invites users to embrace a conscious approach to living, where high-quality design converges with practicality, longevity, and conscious production.
Array embodies a progressive approach toward more conscious furniture design and innovation.
A keen focus on enhancing the furniture lifecycle and its technical construction from the core represents a paradigm shift in furniture design, where every element is thoughtfully reconsidered to prioritize environmental responsibility without compromising quality or comfort.
Snøhetta a transdisciplinary architecture practice with over 350 employees across nine studios across the globe, responsible for buildings like the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expansion.
The product design division, established in 2017, is under director Marius Myking, working to bring an architectural sensibility to objects.
Array Modular Sofa System
Architects: Snøhetta Design Oslo
Manufacturer: MDF Italia srl.
