A Kingston Sofa by William Plunkett (1960s)

The Kingston sofa was designed in 1967 by British designer William Plunkett as part of a modular seating system built around a series of interchangeable upholstered components. The design is constructed from a bolted aluminium bar frame that forms both the base and structure of the sofa, supporting individual upholstered cylindrical cushions which create the seat and backrest.  

This example has been fully restored in our workshop. The sofa was stripped back to its original wooden back panels and rebuilt with new foam throughout before being newly upholstered in a hardwearing yellow twill by Kvadrat. The cylindrical cushions are individually upholstered and mounted within the aluminium frame, creating the distinctive horizontal rhythm that defines the Kingston design.

The aluminium base is both structural and visual, giving the sofa a light architectural presence while maintaining excellent rigidity. The deeply padded cylindrical elements provide comfortable support.

The Kingston range was originally conceived as a family of seating elements that could be configured in different ways, making it suitable for both domestic and commercial interiors. It was supplied to a number of significant interior projects, including installations on the ocean liner QE2, and used in retail environments such as Russell & Bromley stores.  

The strong geometry of the sofa works particularly well in architectural interiors where the aluminium frame and horizontal upholstery elements echo modernist lines.

Dimensions
Width: 180 cm
Depth: 79 cm
Height: 66 cm
Seat height: 40 cm