BFMF (Bent Foam, Metal Frame)
The B.F.M.F. (Bent Foam, Metal Frame) collection represents a pivotal milestone in the studio’s ongoing exploration of material agency and structural honesty. Developed between 2015 and 2017, this body of work is the evolution of a research project initiated at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam, titled F.F.F. (Foam Follows Function). The collection was originally commissioned by the Machado Muñoz Gallery and made its high-profile debut at the ARCO Art Fair in Madrid, eventually finding a permanent home in prestigious venues such as the Rossana Orlandi Gallery and the Ateneo de Madrid.
The design team conceptualized B.F.M.F. as a contemporary critique of traditional upholstery. Instead of hiding the internal structure of a sofa behind layers of fabric and staples, the studio decided to make the tension between materials the primary aesthetic and functional driver. The system is based on a deceptively simple logic: soft, industrial foam blocks are "tamed" and forced into a seating function by the rigid embrace of a steel frame. It is the metal that dictates the foam’s behavior, turning a raw industrial material into a sophisticated domestic object through pure mechanical compression.
The collection is categorized by the geometric gestures used to shape the foam, with each piece exploring a different degree of rotation and tension. The B.F.M.F. 90º Horizontal and Vertical models utilize right-angle cuts and precise iron frames to create sharp, architectural silhouettes. The 180º Vertical pushes the elasticity of the material further, bending the foam into a continuous loop, while the 360º Diagonal uses a complex rotation to create a dynamic form where the seat and backrest emerge from a single fluid transformation.
Technically, each piece is wrapped in a cream-colored neoprene sleeve, chosen for its durability and laboratory-like aesthetic. The studio’s commitment to transparency is evident in the exposed iron frames, showing the structural effort required to contain the foam. This research into "Compressed Foam" (C.F.) laid the groundwork for future large-scale collaborations, such as the modular seating developed for ON Running, proving that the studio's early experiments in "material taming" have a direct and lasting impact on the future of functional interior architecture.