COR got its name in 1955 when Prince Bentheim Tecklenburg and Leo Lübke started their furniture upholstering and manufacturing business in Rheda-Wiedenbrück. It means heart, in Latin, and was decided upon since three hearts are displayed in the coat of arms from each of the founders. Soon after, their furniture won the hearts of residential projects around the world.

Modular Fossa. Designed by Aurélien Barbry for COR.

Modular Seating With Plenty of Options is the Fossa by Aurélien Barby for COR

These days, the magic continues with the latest design of Fossa by Aurelien Barbry. Although its purpose is not as straightforward as the history of COR, it serves as many a different seating design: lounger, chaise, sofa, corner combination, etc. But according to the description released by COR, the confusion, or modular state of the seating system, is what makes it so special: “FOSSA functions according to the principle of change: Cushion elements find a place in recesses – they are inserted, moved, or removed.”

Aurelien Barbry is a designer who thinks about his creations existentially. To him, this state of mind begins with “an exercise where you think about the most simple things in your daily life and ask yourself why you do like you do or how it could be done differently.” Since the vast majority of designers might agree with his mentality, Barbry puts his modifications of everyday things into action and his impressive career proves it. After working for seven years as a designer for the French superstar architect Jean Nouvel, he has created designs for big name brands like Alessi, Unifor, Ercuis & Raynaud, and Matteo Grassi, among others.

“When designing a chair, you have to ask yourself the simple question – what is it to sit down?” Using Fossa as a prime example of his work, it seems to sit down is to give yourself plenty of options with what you’ll do next.