UMA OBJECTS

T4 OUTDOOR 2-seater outdoor sofa composite material / L 162 cm - Fibreglass / For outdoor use

Retro-futurism... British studio Holloway Li has collaborated with Turkish label Uma Objects on T4, a modular collection of seating with voluminous curves, inspired by the playful visual language of the 90s. Exhibited at the world's most prestigious design festivals, T4 has been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the prestigious Wallpaper prize in 2023.

All round, two-material and in a deliciously gourmand palette, T4 is inspired by the playful settings and television iconography of the 90s, from the cheeky optimism of the Big Brother era to lava lamps and Inflatable armchairs. A nostalgic invitation to a "return to the future", to the cheerful, colorful scenography that marked the turn of the millennium. The combination of contemporary colors and the retro shape of the seat results in a "retro-futuristic" design, both warm and singular.

Alex Holloway, co-founder of Holloway Li: "We referred to the '90s as a kind of genesis, or starting point, because it's just a bit more fun - something that's neither too sober nor too polished. We wanted to strike a balance between the retro aesthetic but at the same time the optimism that prevailed at that time. It's as if Big Brother's armchair and Salvador Dali's Mae West Lips sofa had had a child!

This footless, armless swivel chair combines a generous shell in Lacquered fibreglass with an upholstered seat covered in Fabric. The modularity of the T4 collection means that several seats can be grouped together to create sofas of any size. T4 can be used in both residential and commercial spaces.

For over 30 years, Turkish manufacturer Polkima has been producing composite molded parts for the automotive industry at its plant in Izmir. Turkish furniture manufacturer Uma benefits from Polkima's 30 years of experience to create its breathtakingly curved molded composite furniture. Uma furniture is produced in the same factory, using the same process as that used to produce London bus interiors! The curvilinear shape of the T4 collection is the result of a complex, multi-stage manufacturing process. First, a mold is laser-cut in the Polkima factory. The surface of the mold is sprayed with a smooth coating before fiberglass and resin are deposited in the closed mold. After half a day's hardening, the craftsmen remove the furniture from the mold and hand-polish it to a soft sheen. The Fabric upholstery, made by another local fabricator, is assembled on site.

''We work a lot with very complex compound curves,'' explains Alex Holloway, architect and half of Holloway Li. ''It fits with our style of creating complex geometries that you couldn't achieve with metal or wood.''

In detail:

• Variation : Melon yellow / Striped yellow & white

• Brand : UMA OBJECTS

• Designer : Holloway Li

• Type : 2-seater outdoor sofa

• Colour : Structure: yellow melon / Fabric: yellow & white stripes

• Material : Shell in molded fiberglass - Foam padding - Fabric covering for outdoor use.

• Dimensions : W 162 x D 103 cm x H 83 cm - Seat: H 43 cm
• Weight : 176 lb
• Characteristics : For outdoor use (weather-resistant) - Project date: 2022 - Award: Wallpaper prize in 2023 - Modular seats - Manufactured in the Uma factory in Turkey