L’Imprevu, designed by Marie Christine Dorner for Ligne Roset, won Excellent Product Design in the furniture category at the 2019 German Design Awards. This award honors groundbreaking products, projects, manufacturers and designers selected for their innovation, functionality, distinctive aesthetics and alignment with user needs. Each entry is scrutinized by the high-caliber international jury made up of 46 design specialists from 11 countries and the winners chosen.

Ligne Roset’s L’Imprevu is named for the French word meaning ‘the unexpected’ as in: the unexpected guest. The sofa is most notable for its transformative modules. A single right-arm unit can be used alone or added to another identical piece at a right angle forming a sectional. Two units can also fit together, like puzzle pieces, creating a queen-sized bed. The seat cushions are made from mattress foam providing comfort and support whether used for sitting or sleeping. The backrests can stay on, forming a ‘conversation pit’ or they can slide up and off metal runners to add a fitted sheet and create a true bed for any guests who drop in. The beauty of the sofa’s varying depths goes beyond aesthetics – this is the core of its module flexibility. In addition to joining two sofas together, an ottoman can be placed on the deep or shallow end, as well as the side of the seat, allowing for even more configurations. L’Imprevu is extremely customizable when it comes to upholsteries as well, with four different opportunities to mix and match colors and textures of fabrics, ultimately granting millions of unique options.

The German Design Awards jury said, “Thanks to the special geometry of the seat in combination with the removable backrests, the elegant sofa offers several sitting and reclining positions, which, in combination with other modules, opens up even more possibilities.”