Ligne Roset Celebrates the Togo Sofa’s 50th Anniversary
Five decades later, the caterpillar-esque couch with a cult following still holds its own in both contemporary and timeless interiors.
Five decades later, the caterpillar-esque couch with a cult following still holds its own in both contemporary and timeless interiors.
When you’ve been in the business of home design for as long as we have, you start to notice a few recurring characters that quietly and effortlessly steal the spotlight. Enter the low-slung, forward-thinking Togo sofa designed by Michel Ducaroy for Ligne Roset.
The all-foam cushion seating with no hard points is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and remains as polarizing and emblematic of modern design as ever.
Photo: Ligne Roset
"...a tube of toothpaste folded back on itself like a stovepipe and closed at both ends."
- Michel Ducaroy, designer of Togo
The Togo "seat-cushion" was first presented in Paris at the Salon des Arts Ménagers in 1973, and while its sunk-in form was met with its fair share of skeptical glances, the organizers awarded Ducaroy the René-Gabriel prize, which recognized "innovative and democratic furniture." To truly understand its spirit, one must take into account the larger intersection of design and culture in the 1960s and ‘70s: There were rapid changes in social attitudes alongside a rise in experimentation of all sorts, including with new materials like foams, quilting, and thermoformed plastics.
Michel Ducaroy designed a range of furniture for young people along with chairs, settees, and other pieces for public facilities before teaming up with Jean Roset. Ducaroy is seen here in Ligne Roset's design office in 1973 with a prototype.
Photo: Ligne Roset
This 1974 advertisement shows off Togo’s unique form as a symbol of the time period’s revolutionary spirit.
Courtesy of Roux-Séguéla Agency via Ligne Roset Archives
See the full story on Dwell.com: Ligne Roset Celebrates the Togo Sofa’s 50th Anniversary
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