A Couch from Space

Curated Mid-Century Modern Home Listings from Across the U.S.A. 🇺🇸

Jun 03, 2024

Did you watch Dune: Part 2? It’s currently rated an 8.6 on IMDb, which makes it the 26th highest-rated film of all time. Whether you’re a sci-fi nerd or not, Dune offers a pretty unique and visually arresting cinematic escape. Dune (the book) was written in 1965, at at the heart of America’s ‘Space Race’. Five years later (and one year after the moon landing), a French designer imagined a captivating modular sofa that also became known as Dune.

Château La Coste Pierre Paulin Exhibition — A 25 section Dune Sofa at Château La Coste

Said designer, Pierre Paulin, rose to some level of prominence in the 1960s. Like most of the designers we highlight here, Paulin wasn't just interested in making furniture – he wanted to conceive entirely new types of living spaces. Paulin's design sensibilities were shaped by a multi-disciplinary creative background. First trained as a ceramist, Paulin brought a sculptor's eye to furniture with unique pieces that embraced organic, flowing forms.

Pierre Paulin | Explore iconic designer furniture | GUBI — Pierre Paulin - cool hair!

The Dune Sofa's creation coincided with Paulin's successful collaboration with Dutch furniture company Artifort. Crafted from individual modular sections, the Dune Sofa offered a revolutionary level of flexibility. Users could configure the modules in almost innumerable ways, creating a sprawling landscape perfect for lounging or a more compact seating arrangement for socializing. While uniquely functional, its the Dune Sofa's visual appeal that makes it enduring. Organic lines mimic the gradual curves of sandy dunes. The plush upholstery, available in a variety distinctive colors, help make the Dune Sofa a statement piece for any space.

Despite its initial success in the early 1970’s, the Dune Sofa's popularity fell off in the following decades and the design was nearly forgotten. However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest . Celebrities like Frank Ocean and Kanye West have further fueled the buzz by incorporating the Dune Sofa into their homes. While finding photos of the sofa on social media is easy, actually tracking down an authentic example in good condition is tricky - not to mention moving the thing into your apartment.