tatlin.

The Tatlin sofa is "freely inspired" by the famous Tatlin Tower, even though the tower was never actually built. If you're into architecture, at this point you're knowingly nodding your head in understanding. If you're like me, you're probably wondering what the heck a Tatlin Tower is.

sad. story.
The short, sad story of the tower is that a Russian named Vladimir Tatlin was hired around 1920 to create a Monument of the Third International. It was going to be 1,300 feet high and serve as an office building, a convention center and a few other things. It was sort of a spiral-ish, cylindrical affair that would rotate on its vertical axis and various geometrically shaped parts would spin around and occasionally meet up to connect the branches of government that were to be housed there. Needles to say...never built.

happy. story.
Happily, this "center stage sofa" was built, by Mario Cananzi and Roberto Semprini. In technical terms I'd describe it as a bold, funky, roundish affair that's actually quite comfortable. I imagine it's great at a party if you also have one of those circular conversation pits to put it in. The sales language has this take on it: "This is the first upholstered unit to go beyond the dimension of product and become a signal."

signal. price.
The price for this "signal" is about 4,200 euros, and I don't even want to contemplate what that would be in U.S. dollars. Actually, according to XE.com it's only $5,612.67. Not too bad!