“During the ’70s the Mah Jong was considered an avant-garde piece when first created and really changed the way people furnished and arranged their spaces,” says Nicolas Roche, creative director of Roche Bobois. Over the years the sofa was “dressed” by various fashion houses who put the design at the forefront of new trends. Nicolas says the design remains iconic today, as the freeform modular seating is the reference point for fully modular creative design. “The simplicity of the design explains its incredible longevity,” he says.
The Mah Jong sofa recently celebrated 50 years, having first been designed by painter, sculptor, and designer Hans Hopfer in 1971. The design continues to invite you to combine three basic elements as you please for seemingly endless options of composition to meet the needs of any space. To celebrate five decades as an icon, Roche Bobois has updated the sofa with options for cushions in new fabrics designed by Kenzo Takada, Jean Paul Gaultier, or Missoni Home.
The new Mah Jong cushions are handmade in Italy in a dedicated workshop using the same processes and techniques as the haute couture fashion industry. Each component is hand-stitched in the style of a luxury mattress.
Today’s Mah Jong is also set on elegant platforms that raise the seats to make the sofa even more comfortable and modern. The platforms come in finishes that match the colorways of the Mah Jong fabrics—stained wood in warm or clear tones and several shades of lacquer with deep reflections.
Kenzo Takada dressed the Mah Jong in fabrics inspired by ancient kimonos symbolizing the three times of the day: Asa (morning), Hiru (midday), Yoru (evening).
Jean Paul Gaultier designed the “Couture” coverings for Mah Jong.
