Traditionally the frame of a sofa or armchair is been kept hidden beneath layers of foam and upholstery, concealing the construction. However in recent years, designers have been bringing the frame to the fore, elevating its role from functional to decorative. With their structured formal appearance, these prominent wire frame sofas and armchairs lend themselves particularly well to office environments.

Launched in Milan last year, Konstantin Grcic‘s Traffic collection for Magis features a bright tubular metal frame into which neat rectangular cushions are slotted. The collection includes an armchair, a two-seater sofa, two benches and a chaise longue

Introduced during New York Design Week 2013, Herman Miller‘s Wireframe Sofa Group by London-based studio Industrial Facility features voluminous upholstery arranged within an exacting wire framework.

Originally designed in 1928 and now produced by Cassina, Le Corbusier’s LC2 upholstery collection was way ahead of its time.

Launched earlier this year at the Stockholm Furniture Fair, the Cajal sofas and armchairs by Gunilla Allard for Lammhults feature slender steel frames wrapped around structured seats. The seats, made from glass-fibre reinforced polyurethane, can upholstered in leather or fabric.

Named after traditional Japanese floor cushions, Nendo’s Zabuton chair for Moroso is a futon-shaped lounge chair with a large cushion draped over its thin wire frame. The design is available in three versions with a choice of different armrests so that several chairs can be combined to create a larger seat. The collection also includes a chaise lounge, a sofa and dining chair.