‘Montis wanted a sofa with a slim look. I looked for elements that add something special to a design. In the ‘60s-’70s, there were quite a lot of armchairs with a bend in the arm, but you never saw that with sofas. I thought that was an interesting feature. I made sketches and created “quick” models in my studio. To see something an actual object, to hold it in your hands literally lets you feel whether your idea works. You also look at functionality and use. There were sofas on the market with thin armrests, but they lacked comfort. Because of the folded armrest plate, the Otis looks slender, but you still experience comfort. Ultimately, the armrest is what gives a sofa character.’

Johan van Hengel – designer