Macaron collection is more than furniture; it is a flexible, adaptive place to stay. This collaboration between Mecanoo and Bert Plantagie brings architectural thinking and furniture craftsmanship together into a shared design process, resulting in a layered modular sofa system designed for versatile living. True to its name, the system is engineered as a functional "macaron", defined by the physical layering of the base at the bottom, the seat, and the backrest.
Rather than a fixed object, Macaron consists of a specific set of modules that can be combined in various configurations and orientations. This architectural approach allows the user to become the designer, composing spatial scenes tailored to any environment: intimate islands for deep concentration, social clusters for collaborative exchange, or rhythmic zig-zags that guide movement through a room. This adaptability is rooted in research by design. Developed through user-based activity studies across various projects, the Macaron responds directly to real human behaviour.
By mapping user journeys and analysing how people move, meet, work, and unwind, each module was purposefully crafted as an intentional response to the user's experience. This ensures that whether seeking deep concentration or collaborative exchange, there is a configuration that intuitively supports the journey across office landscapes, hospitality settings, and educational spaces.
The system’s modularity is a core commitment to sustainability. By treating furniture as an adaptable infrastructure, the Macaron can be reconfigured based on users' needs, enabling circularity and reducing the need for replacement. This ensures the system can grow and change over time, providing a long-term spatial solution for any environment. For future development, the system can be extended with integrated tables and planters, allowing it to evolve alongside the environments it inhabits. Crafted with a natural material palette of walnut or oak plinths and high-quality fabrics, the Macaron transforms into a responsive, sustainable landscape that remains a timeless solution for years to come.