DESIGN B R I EF
aircraftinteriorsinternational.com
046 MARCH 2020
COUCH TRIP
VERDICT
The versatile Sofa concept offers the flexibility
required to address passengers’ fear of boredom
and discomfort on lengthy flights. The design may
be simple, but its modular design offers so many
opportunities to change position and engage in
different activities that it would really help the hours
of ultra-long range flights pass quickly, and for
passengers to arrive rested and comfortable, with
the effects of jetlag minimised. And of course that
enjoyment would attract more high-spending
customers to opt for ULH routes, and lead to
repeat custom.
We have seen similar ideas before, but that
collaboration with Pininfarina, a studio famous for
designing everything from the Ferrari Daytona to the
Alenia Superjet cabin, shines through in the quality
of the execution.
THE BRIEF
On ultra-long-range flights of more than 14,500km (7,830NM), even
a first class seat could feel a little confined. We would like to see
flexibility built into the seat that would enable switching between
several positions and activities – and all within the same footprint.
THE SOLUTION
The Sofa is a first-class seat concept for ultra-long-haul (ULH)
flights, created by Stelia Aerospace in collaboration with Italian
design house, Pininfarina. Following research into what top-tier
flyers would need, expect and desire from an extended flying
experience, the partners decided upon a modular design, which
can serve as a luxurious private seating space, or be converted into
multiple layout configurations that enable movement and freedom:
freedom to choose between privacy or sociability, sleep or activity,
work or mindfulness.
The Sofa experience begins in a conventional seated position, but
with the armrest stowed after takeoff, as the name of the concept
suggests, the passenger now has a large couch for lounging or
entertaining, as well as a large floor area suitable for stretching.
With the large tables deployed, a banquette-style communal dining
or boardroom experience can be created. Stow the tables and pull
out the modular seating panels and a large, flat and soft space is
created, which can be used for anything from sprawling, yoga or
sleeping, to a family space.
Entertainment is vital on long flights, and Sofa provides a feast
for the eyes with wraparound displays that can provide true
widescreen viewing, emit relaxing hues to aid sleep or meditation,
or set a mood for dining. The displays can also turn clear to give
a view out of the windows and meet regulatory requirements.
A further option during the journey is enabled by the privacy
screens, which can create an open or private feel in the cabin.
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