The Iconic Terrazza Sofa: Why Is It So?

This is a grey leather DS-1025 Terrazza sofa in ‘Natural Taupe’ leather in a natural aesthetic living room styled by Simone Haag. | Image: Dylan James

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What is the Terrazza sofa?

The Terrazza sofa is a legendary 1973 modular sofa design by Ublad Klug. Also known as the DS-1025 Terrazza sofa, it’s a chic, lavish sofa with unique terraced shape like valley or mountain slopes.

Featuring seven tiers of stepped leatherwork, each sofa is individually handcrafted by luxury furniture crafter de Sede in Switzerland. The leather-wrapped cushions sit upon a rectangular base.

There are ‘left’ and ‘right’ sofa elements which can be arranged in different ways. You often see one element alone as a statement lounge chair. Or, grouped together to make a 2, 3 or 4-seat sofa combinations – or more. Position them outside-in, inside-out or in a line.

Limited only by your imagination, use one piece in an awkward corner. Or use several sofa modules in a group to make a statement in the middle of a room.

This chic, lived-in apartment captured by digital creator Montebaci features a single DS-1025 sofa in a corner in taupe leather. | Image: Montebaci

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Who designed the Terrazza sofa?

Ubald Klug is the designer behind the DS-1025 Terrazza sofa. He created it in 1974 for Swiss luxury furniture crafters de Sede. Born in 1932, Ubald Klug is a Swiss contemporary artist and designer.

Klug trained as in interior designer, with a keen interest in architecture and sculpture. He moved to Paris in 1966, eventually becoming an interior architect and designer in his own right. With innovation his driving force, he has designed furniture, watches, textiles, glass and ceramics.

>> Learn more about Ubald Klug here.

Here designer Ubald Klug is seated upon a DS-1025 during the design stages. | Image: de Sede

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What inspired the DS-1025’s sofa’s shape?

Designer Ubald Klug was inspired by the terraces he saw in Swiss vineyards. The undulating mountains, rocks and valleys moved him to create the sofa. He assembled foam elements into an actual seating landscape to form an over-sized, cradling shape.

Ubald Klug sought certainty the design not only looked good but was comfortable. It needed to invite a person to sit, lie down, or rest there for long periods. So, he ergonomically designed the DS-1025 sofa using two modelling techniques.

Firstly, he found a small unique undulating stone. He used this, with a wire human figure, to create a model.

Image: de Sede

Next, large swathes of angular foam were layered to emulate the rock’s formation. Klug himself sat lying, squatting and sitting upon the formations to test for comfort.

The analogy of the Terrazza sofa speaking to the terraced cultural landscape of the 1970s cannot be overlooked. Along with the multiple design awards it has won along the way.

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Is the Terrazza couch comfortable?

Yes, the Terrazza sofa is ergonomically designed and comfortable. Crafted from rectangular foam baseplates, the shape entices a person to sit or lie down.

It’s constructed of the highest quality foam and top-grade fabric or leather. The DS-1025 Terrazza Sofa shuns traditional springs, feet and back rests. In fact, much like a good wine, any timeworn creases that adorn the sofa add to its stately appearance.

This boy is resting on a tan leather DS-1025 Terrazza element. | Image: Boundary

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Why is the Terazza sofa iconic?

Trend-setters in the 1970s found the distinct shape of the Terrazza sofa very appealing. Ideal for lounging and relaxing, it meshed with the new generation’s movement towards a casual lifestyle.

As the Terrazza sofa’s style credibility grew, key cultural figures like legendary rocker Mick Jagger, and iconic soul singer Aretha Franklin were spotted with it. Once more, the sofa’s reputation grew. The DS-1025 sofa became a landmark design for the Pop Art generation.

Mick Jagger’s enthusiasm for the tiered sofa demonstrates how Ubald Klug’s design idea struck a chord at the time – and still does now. Its unique shape and design cred have secured a fan base among the world’s wealthiest and foremost taste influencers.

The DS-1025 sofa’s entry into the permanent collections at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich speaks to the sofa’s design significance.

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Which celebrities and style influencers have the famous Terrazza chair?

Leading interior designers, A list celebrities and iconic brands have featured the Terrazza sofa in their homes and work life. From supermodel Erin Wasson and Snoop Dog, to Beyoncé, Kelly Wearstler, Isabel Marant and Brandon Blackwood, all have intersected with the iconic sofa.

Not to mention many ‘camera shy’ private homes that have a DS-1025 nestled in a room for socialising on or watching movies on. The Terrazza sofa has graced many legendary and significant settings throughout the years.

The distinctive appearance and restrained supply (due to it often being custom made) of the Terrazza sofa have helped it build a cult following. So much so, the sofas can occasionally be found for resale by design resellers like 1stDibs.

A set of two brown leather Terrazza sofa in a home designed by world renowned architectural firm AD100 Charles Hyman & Herro. | Photo: Architectural Digest, Laure Joliet

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Celebrities photographed with the Terrazza sofa include:

✔️ Legendary rocker Mick Jagger seated on the sofa

✔️ Iconic soul singer Aretha Franklin singing in a studio with the sofa

✔️ American rapper Snoop Dog in a Klarna commercial

✔️ The home of supermodel Erin Wasson

✔️ Featured in Beyoncé’s Adidas x Ivy Park video

Snoop Dog with Afghan hounds upon a de Sede DS-1025 seat for an advertising campaign. | Image: Pinterest

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Interior designers who have selected the DS-1025 sofa include:

✔️ The home of interior designer Kelly Wearstler captured by Architectural Digest + Pinterest

✔️ Newton Courtyard House by Australian interior designer Simone Haag

✔️ Interiors by interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard

✔️ In LA based interior designer Sally Breer’s home

✔️ The eclectic home of AD100 firm Charlap Hyman & Herrero

A Terrazza sofa inside the home of American interior designer Kelly Wearstler | Image: Vogue Australia

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Fashion influencers with the DS-1025 sofa include:

✔️ Tommy Hilfiger’s media room

✔️ The home of accessories designer Brandon Blackwood

✔️ The home of designer and vintage furniture collector Glenn Lawson

✔️ Isabel Marant’s Ciguë showroom in Paris

✔️ On performance shoes head office in Zurich

✔️ Fashion retailer Lamarel in Zurich 

✔️ The home of fashion executive and ex-artistic director of Kenzo Felipe Oliveira Baptista

Accessory designer, Brandon Blackwood, seated upon a DS-1025 leather sofa in his home | Image: Angela Hau for Domino

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Design settings featuring the DS-1025 sofa include:

✔️ Collections of the Museum fur Gestaltung Zurich in the Swiss Deign Lounge

✔️ The embassy of Switzerland in Copenhagen

✔️ On set in the 1977 sci fi series Logan’s Run

✔️ Elle Decoration Netherlands for Dutch Design Week

Pictured is the Terrazza sofa in the Swiss Design Lounge at the Museum fur Gestaltung in Zurich. | Image: Museum fur Gestaltung

Tan Terrazza sofas in tan leather are a popular, durable and timeless choice. Shown here beneath a mural of The Rolling Stones featuring Mick Jagger. | Image: Source unknown

This retro living room features a pair of cream leather inwards facing sofas. | Image: Source unknown via de Sede