FC (Forma Curva)

The F.C. (Formas Curvas) collection, developed in 2016, represents a fundamental stage in the studio’s ongoing research into the structural "taming" of industrial materials. This series emerged as a direct evolution of the F.F.F. (Foam Follows Function) project, which was originally initiated during a residency at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam. After the initial exploration of deconstructing the upholstery industry, the design team focused on refining the interaction between high-density expanded foam and rigid metallic skeletons to create a series of armchairs and seating elements characterized by their bold, non-linear geometries.

The conceptual heart of Formas Curvas lies in the tension between the "soft" and the "hard." The studio utilized industrial foam blocks obtained in standard Dutch dimensions (2 x 2 x 16 meters), which were then precisely cut and "forced" into functional shapes. Unlike the earlier prototypes, this collection achieved a more sophisticated balance between the raw material and the human scale. The design team experimented with the inherent resistance of the foam, using it not as a padding, but as a primary structural body. In this series, the functionality is not just supported by the steel frame; it is defined by the way the metal "troughs" or clamps the foam, creating the distinctive "curved forms" that give the collection its name.

Technically, the Formas Curvas pieces (comprising models FC 01, FC 02, and FC 03) introduced a more refined finishing process. To protect the foam from degradation—a key focus of the studio’s investigation—and to provide a domestic tactile quality, the team utilized neoprene sleeves in a grayscale palette (black, white, and grey). These sleeves are joined by a single straight seam and tied on the inside, ensuring a clean, technical aesthetic that emphasizes the piece's silhouette. The iron frames are left exposed, serving as a visual reminder of the mechanical effort required to hold the material in its "tamed" state.

Presented at the PlusDesign Gallery in Milan and subsequently at Rossana Orlandi, the F.C. collection stands as a bridge toward the later B.F.M.F. series. It demonstrates the team's ability to transform the "bastard" materials of the industrial world into high-end collectible design. Through these curved forms, the studio continues to challenge the traditional boundaries of upholstery, proving that the honest expression of tension and compression can result in a new and suggestive language for contemporary seating.