A new designer armchair by Patrick Jouin for Pedrali combines fluidity, craftsmanship, and technology in a single gesture
Twelve years after Ester, the collaboration between Pedrali and French designer Patrick Jouin is renewed with a project marking an evolutionary milestone: Opale is born, a new designer armchair created to blend contemporary aesthetics, enveloping comfort, and sustainable production.
Premiered at Salone del Mobile.Milano 2025, Opale revisits and expands on the designer’s core themes: harmony between form and function, attention to gesture, and material quality, all reinterpreted with a contemporary touch.
Fluid design, organic shapes
Opale’s design is fluid and embracing, defined by soft, continuous volumes. The solid wood legs, available in walnut or ash, seamlessly merge with the backrest and armrests, creating a delicate yet distinctive joint. The oval cross-section gradually tapers, giving the silhouette visual lightness and a dynamic flair.
Wood, a warm and living material, becomes both a structural and decorative element.
Technical comfort and compact proportions
Opale is designed to embrace. Its internal structure features elastic straps, while the seat, backrest, and armrests—made of molded polyurethane foam—provide carefully calibrated ergonomics. Its compact proportions make it an ideal design chair for both hospitality settings and refined residential spaces.
A distinctive feature is the integrated rear handle, sculpted into the backrest. Discreet yet functional, it makes moving the chair easier and highlights the object’s three-dimensional form.
Sustainability as a core value
As with all Pedrali projects, sustainability is an integral part of the process. The ash wood legs are FSC® certified and coated with water-based finishes made from plant-based resins.
Additionally, all Opale components are mechanically assembled, allowing for easy disassembly, recycling, and replacement.
An approach that combines beauty and responsibility, keeping sustainable elegance at its core—designed to last over time.
A designer armchair between function and poetry
With Opale, Pedrali and Patrick Jouin create a designer armchair where every detail is crafted to deliver a sensory, tactile, and visual experience that goes beyond mere seating. A refined and mindful piece, ready to engage in dialogue with both spaces and people.
