ProductsChairsLounge chairsSofasOffice chairsChaises longuesStools & benchesSculpturesConference chairsAirport seatingStorage spaceMicro architectureDining tablesCafé tablesCoffee & side tablesDesksOffice furniture systemsConference systemsLightingClocksDecorative objectsCoat racks & wall shelvesTrays & vesselsNewBestsellerQuickly availableColour & materialAlexander Girard Antonio CitterioBarber OsgerbyCharles & Ray Eames George NelsonHella JongeriusIsamu NoguchiLounge chair finderOffice chair finderGift finderCare & repairSpare partsCare productsManufacturer warrantyVitra Circle StoresLounge Chair & OttomanHang it allInspirationsLiving roomDining roomHome OfficeChildren's roomOutdoorHome StoriesAugmented RealityColours & materialsHome SelectionWorkspaceFocusMeetingWorkshopClub OfficeCitizen OfficeStudio OfficeDynamic SpacesHospitalityAirportsEducationCo-WorkingHealthcareOur ClientsDestination WorkplaceA case for classicsOffice chairsDancing OfficeHome StoriesThe Home Selection fabrics from Kvadrat and DedarAugmented Reality - bring Vitra products into your homeSchool of Design: Showcase work and knowledgeA case for classicsColour & materialAn open house An office landscape - without walls or partitionsHigh comfort of low energyA leading space for a leading art collegeServicesCare & repairSpare partsCare productsManufacturer warrantyFAQ and contactInstructionsConsulting & Planning StudioVitra Circle StoresConsulting & planning in the VitraHausInstructionsOutdoor care instructionsRepair, maintenance, overhaul at the Vitra Circle Store Campus ProfessionalsCAD dataProduct factsheetsCertificatesSustainability reportInstructionsEcology informationpConPlanning examplesColour & Material LibraryCertificates and standardsHome SelectionTo the dealer loginOur ClientsMyntDestination Workplace: Visit our clients and partnersAnagram SofaMikadoTyde 2 on castorsACXDancing OfficeOffice chairsMagazineStoriesConversationsExhibitionsDesignerProject VitraA Capsule in TimeSeeing the forest for the treesRefining a classicMynt is a lifetime achievement to meA desk like a typefaceV-FoamSculptural IconsGames bring people together – just like good officesLet there be light!Social SeatingJust Do It!EVER GREENWhy the Eames La Fonda Chair was designedWhen a Sofa is more than just a Sofa: Anagram100% virgin wool – 100% recyclableAn archive is like a time capsuleVitraHaus Loft - A conversation with Sabine MarcelisA 1000 m2 piece of furnitureFrom a toy to an objectThe Eames Collection at the Vitra Design MuseumAbout the partnership between Eames and VitraVitra CampusExhibitionsGuided tours & workshopsFood and drinkShoppingActivities for familiesArchitectureYour eventConsulting & planning in the VitraHausPlan your visitVitra Campus appCampus EventsNewsVitraHausVitra Design MuseumVitra SchaudepotVitra Circle Store CampusOudolf GartenAbout VitraSustainabilityJobs & CareersDesign processThe Original is by VitraHistory - Project Vitra
Refining a Classic
A studio visit with Ronan Bouroullec
The Slow Chair, developed by Vitra in 2006 with designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, has since become a classic. With its elastic, transparent mesh fabric, the generously proportioned Slow Chair embodied a new approach to lounge chairs: light yet comfortable, sculptural yet understated. Almost two decades later, the Slow Chair is joined by a new variant in soft bouclé fabric and a brand new family member: the Slow Sofa. They reflect both a continuation and a rethinking of the original design. During our studio visit, Ronan Bouroullec revisits the ideas behind the first version and talks about the updates.
‘The Slow Sofa transforms interiors with its form, its presence and the comfort it inspires, adding colour and feeling to any setting. This is precisely what we sought to achieve. When there are only a few furnishings – such as a bed and a desk – a sofa can create something that instantly evokes softness, comfort and a sense of psychological and visual well-being.’
Ronan Bouroullec
Publication date: 04.09.2025
Images: © Vitra, photos: Marion Berrin
