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Lepli Seating by Kensaku Oshiro Expands with Chair and Armchair for Poltrona Frau
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
The Lepli seating family, designed by Kensaku Oshiro, has been extended with the addition of a chair and a small armchair. These new pieces join an existing range that includes stools, a bench, and poufs developed for indoor and outdoor use. The expansion continues a design direction that Poltrona Frau has maintained in recent years, where existing concepts are revisited and extended rather than replaced.
The Lepli project was originally conceived as a compact upholstered seating form defined by its cinched profile and continuous outer shell. The chair and armchair retain this identity. Both models are built around a rounded volume that narrows slightly at the centre before widening again at the upper backrest. The profile creates a contained seating form, with the backrest wrapping around the sitter in a single continuous movement.
The design references garment construction in its surface treatment. Top-stitched seams, piped edges, and pin-tuck detailing are integrated into the upholstery. These elements are not applied as decoration but form part of the structural finish of the outer shell. A horizontal leather band marks the narrowest point of the form, reinforcing the visual break between upper and lower volumes.
The backrest is inclined and padded, and connects directly into the seat without visible interruption. This produces a single-piece reading, where the internal surfaces appear carved out of a solid upholstered block. The base beneath follows a barrel-like geometry, tapering slightly where it meets the seat. The proportions remain compact, allowing the chair and armchair to function in both residential and contract settings.
The internal construction combines several materials. Birch plywood is used for the seat and primary base structure, providing rigidity and load support. The backrest incorporates Polimex and poplar plywood components shaped to achieve the curved profile. Padding consists of polyurethane foam covered with polyester wadding. This layered assembly allows the external surface to remain smooth while maintaining structural integrity underneath.
Upholstery options include full leather, full fabric, or a combination of both. When leather is selected, the pieces are available in multiple finish variants within the manufacturer’s existing material system. Fabric versions retain the leather band as a contrasting or matching element. Mixed configurations place fabric on the seat and inner backrest surfaces, with leather covering the exterior shell.
The base is available in three functional versions. The fixed version rests directly on concealed supports integrated beneath the form. The swivel version allows full rotation and incorporates a return mechanism that brings the seat back to its original position after use. A wheeled version includes integrated casters positioned slightly inside the perimeter of the base, keeping them visually hidden when viewed from standing height.
These mechanical options do not alter the external proportions. All functional components are contained within the lower volume, preserving the continuity of the outer form.
The Lepli collection forms part of Poltrona Frau’s broader Five Seasons Collection, which groups several product families developed under a shared design direction. Within this context, the Lepli pieces represent the upholstered seating category.
The expansion follows the company’s ongoing approach of extending existing designs over time. Rather than introducing unrelated new forms each season, the brand has continued to build on established projects by adding variations and formats. This method allows manufacturing systems, material development, and design language to remain consistent across multiple product cycles.
Kensaku Oshiro developed the Lepli project by combining references from furniture and clothing. The emphasis on seams, bands, and surface articulation reflects this cross-reference. These details also serve practical roles, marking transitions between structural zones and managing how the upholstery material behaves across curved surfaces.
The compact dimensions of the chair and armchair distinguish them from larger lounge seating. Their scale allows placement in smaller interior arrangements, including dining areas, bedrooms, waiting spaces, and offices. The swivel and wheeled versions also support use in task-oriented environments.
The visual identity remains consistent across all versions. Changes in upholstery material, base function, and colour do not alter the underlying geometry.
Poltrona Frau manufactures the Lepli seating using its established upholstery and assembly processes. The leather options use material processed within the company’s existing supply system. Fabric variants follow the same construction method, with adjustments made for tension and seam alignment.
The Lepli chair and armchair extend a seating system that can now accommodate a wider range of interior uses. With the addition of these upright seating forms, the collection moves beyond occasional seating into more general applications.
The expansion does not introduce a new design language but continues an existing one. The additions maintain the same structural logic, material palette, and construction methods as earlier pieces in the family.
Further information is available at www.poltronafrau.com
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