Lapis Daybed by Pablo Octavio uses torn foam to mimic stone-like seating

The Lapis Collection proposes a deliberate misreading of material. What appears dense, mineral, and resistant reveals itself as unexpectedly soft upon contact. This tension between perception and experience defines the series, positioning each piece as both functional object and tactile inquiry.

The newly introduced Daybed extends this investigation. Emerging from the earlier Lounge Chair, it develops the collection’s sculptural language while integrating a more resolved technical base. The result is a piece that sits slightly elevated from the ground, both physically and conceptually, reinforcing its presence as an object that oscillates between furniture and artifact.

Each piece begins as a monolithic block of soft foam. Rather than being carved with precision tools, the material is manually torn apart. This act introduces an unpredictable dimension into the making process, where rupture becomes a method of shaping. The resulting surfaces carry irregularities that resemble fractured stone, establishing a visual contradiction between appearance and substance.

The process operates between control and accident. While the overall form is guided, the texture emerges through the inherent behavior of the material. Each object therefore retains a degree of uniqueness, marked by subtle variations that resist standardization.

To preserve the softness of the foam while ensuring longevity, the surface is treated with a flexible coating. This layer is both UV resistant and water repellent, allowing the objects to withstand environmental exposure without losing their tactile quality.

The finish does not conceal the irregular surface but instead reinforces its visual ambiguity. It maintains the illusion of weight and solidity while inviting direct interaction, encouraging users to reconcile what they see with what they feel.

The Lapis Daybed exists at the intersection of sculpture and use. Its form suggests permanence, yet its material invites proximity and touch. This duality becomes central to the experience of the piece, where expectation is continuously challenged through contact.

By embracing contrast between roughness and softness, control and chance, the collection reframes furniture as a sensory encounter. It shifts attention from function alone toward perception, positioning the object as a mediator between body, material, and space.

Project Credit

Collection: Lapis Collection
Design: Pablo Octavio / @pablo_octavio_
Material: Soft foam with flexible protective coating
Finish: UV resistant and water repellent coating
Production: Hand shaped through tearing process
Typology: Daybed / sculptural seating object
Location: Cologne, Germany