Seating islands with racing car appeal create vehicles of relaxation in the GERBER mall

Carbon seating for the GERBER

Stuttgart / 2014

Seating islands with racing car appeal create vehicles of relaxation in the GERBER mall

Carbon seating for the GERBER

Stuttgart / 2014


Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

As an integral part of the GERBER’s interior architecture, seating islands were designed for the public areas to serve as places of rest and relaxation amongst the bustle of the shopping mall. The seating islands were subject to an exacting range of requirements: They are designed to be inviting while at the same time restricting resting time, as well as proving suitable to all age groups. Their size is flexible enough to enable easy storage, while being voluminous enough to prohibit theft.

We devised organically shaped seating in three different sizes with the aim of making the sophisticated mall interior and the dynamic spatial geometry of the architecture visible and tangible to visitors. The material used is CFRP, carbon fibre reinforced plastic. As a result the seating islands are surprisingly lightweight and easy to transport despite their bulky size. The material and shape pay homage to a luxury car-loving target group in the motor city of Stuttgart. With their flowing contours, reflective surface with a visible carbon fibre laminated structure and elegantly upholstered black leather pad that serves as a cushion, the seating islands embody all the qualities of a racing car. In the context of the shopping mall, they become vehicles of relaxation. 3D machined moulding, hand-laminated carbon mats and leather cushions that are sewn by hand onto the carbon corpus all go to make up the unique nature of these seating islands.

The 25 GERBER seating islands stand out thanks to their unusual form and bring an extra touch of distinction to the modern and sophisticated character of the mall – bringing quality you can feel to the GERBER.


With their flowing contours, reflective surface with a visible carbon fibre laminated structure and elegantly upholstered black leather pad that serves as a cushion, the seating islands embody all the qualities of a racing car.

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Making of

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects

Carbon seating for the GERBER, Stuttgart. A project by Ippolito Fleitz Group – Identity Architects
Client
  • PHOENIX Real Estate Development GmbH
Location
  • Stuttgart
Status
  • Completed (2014)
Categories
Copyright
  • Ippolito Fleitz Group