Circulus, a new modular sofa designed by Mario Ferrarini for Offecct, brings together architectural elegance, intelligent modularity and sustainability at every stage of its life cycle.
At the heart of the concept lies the freedom to create a space that works best for multiple set-ups, whether it’s an airport lounge, university campus, hotel lobby or an office. Mario Ferrarini describes the very essence of the sofa as “radical and immediately recognisable with its strong and unique identity, yet honest with clearly visible elements”, We sit down with the designer to find out more.
OnOffice: This sofa is great in terms of its modularity and flexibility – is this something that you have noticed as being increasingly important in offices or public spaces?
Mario Ferrarini: The project was born from the idea of delivering the same outstanding performance in both small and large configurations. It’s designed to adapt seamlessly to a wide range of needs, from compact waiting areas and contract spaces to expansive environments like airport lounges. At its core, the concept revolves around customisation: clients have the freedom to decide how many elements to include in their configuration, perfectly aligning the design with other selected furnishings. The real strength of the project lies in its versatility: it thrives both as part of a dynamic composition and as a stunning stand-alone piece. Modularity and flexibility naturally connect with the idea of circularity and repetition. Just as materials can be recycled multiple times, this sofa can be multiplied, through countless elements and countless configurations. It’s a perfect blend of concepts that might seem different at first, yet come together under a single, powerful idea: multiplication of form, function and possibility.
OnOffice: It’s great to see that it has such great sustainability credentials – why was it important for you to work in this way?
Mario Ferrarini: I consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked with Flokk and Offecct. This project is the result of deep exploration, from materials and assembly to minimising components and navigating the strictest regulations in the transportation segment. What amazed me most was seeing how all these considerations didn’t follow a linear, step-by-step path. Instead, they evolved in parallel, converging seamlessly toward the final outcome: the project as it stands today, ready to be experienced by the public.
OnOffice: How would you like people to feel when they sit on your sofa?
Mario Ferrarini: The product’s sustainability allowed us to leave many components visible. That’s why, as a company, we continue to emphasise how this is an “honest” project: everything that has been done is visible, and everything visible hints at the possibility of disassembly and recycling of the individual components, which always sparks interest. Additionally, we invested significant effort in achieving optimal comfort, even with the seat’s very slim sections – another detail that often surprises and delights those who experience it.
View more information about Circulus here.
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