In 2005, Vitra first introduced the Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius. Now, ten years later, the Polder Sofa is being updated with two new versions – the Polder Sofa and the Polder Compact – to replace the original model. The refreshed Polder design brings new colours and materials as well as fresh details to the sofas, featuring textiles developed exclusively for Vitra by Jongerius.

Though the defining characteristics of the design have been retained, they now appear in novel variations. For the new Polder Sofa as well as Polder Compact, the Dutch designer has kept the flat body and the cushions in various coloured fabrics, which recall the origin of the product’s name: in Holland, the word ‘polder’ refers to low lying flatlands, typically subdivided into fields serving various agricultural purposes.

Polder has stayed true to its origins as an unusual asymmetrical sofa – the new models can be optionally configured with the higher armrest on the left or right side, making them adaptable to different spatial settings. A low armrest is integrated on one end of the Polder Sofa, while the other is bordered by an adjoining platform that can serve as a storage surface for magazines, books or trays. The new Polder Compact, by contrast, features a body with two armrests in different heights, which demarcates the smaller dimensions of this compact sofa. Since the platform for the Polder Sofa is now separately available, it can also be used as an ottoman.

As in previous versions, the cushions and body of the sofas are made from varied colours, weaves and textures. Jongerius has created new colour compositions in shades of green, red, golden yellow and night blue, as well as a new set of buttons, in a collage of coloured plastic, aluminium, brass or leather. Not only do the buttons provide a contrast to the woven fabrics, they also facilitate the easy removal of the upholstery covers for cleaning, thanks to a simple fastening device.

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