I’ve examined numerous furniture collections over the years. Many focus on making traditional pieces like sofas or coffee tables feel unique. However, Trueba Studio, an architecture and design firm in Madrid led by Marcos Trueba, approached the concept from a different angle: treating sound as a building material.
The result is VIBRYX, a recent furniture collection that captures attention and imagination. The name ‘VIBRYX’ combines ‘vibr-‘ for vibration, the essence of sound, with ‘X,’ conveying the crossover between design and sound with an eye towards future living spaces. This collection ingeniously conceives vibration as an integral design element.
Design and aesthetic
The VIBRYX collection features sofas, seating, and tables crafted from brushed stainless steel with deep black hair-on hide upholstery. This combination creates stark contrast between the warmth of the hide and the cool, precise nature of the metal. A particular sofa exemplifies this concept, resting low to the ground with a sleek stainless steel base housing a fitted woofer, giving the impression it’s an integral part of the piece. Above, a turntable perches perfectly in its dedicated cradle, transforming the furniture into more than mere living room pieces—it becomes an experiential instrument.
Trueba Studio positions VIBRYX not as “speaker furniture” but as pieces with a “sound presence,” visually dominating and emotionally engaging the room. This concept elevates spaces from simply housing music to embodying musicality itself.
Target audience
This collection appeals to discerning individuals who appreciate vinyl and care about their listening environments. VIBRYX is designed for those who view their living space as a curated setting rather than a mere collection of furniture. The aesthetic is deliberately stripped of unnecessary decoration, focusing on clean geometry and softened edges. It balances industrial precision with intimate warmth, generally succeeding in its intention.
Trueba Studio’s philosophy
Madrid has quietly emerged as a hub for innovative design, with Trueba Studio consistently standing out. Their previous creations, such as the Pol Ann sofa and PL4 chair, reflect an aesthetic rooted in architectural structure, proportionate design, and material choice driven by character. VIBRYX pushes these principles further, envisioning rooms where furniture and sound converge into one seamless experience.
The ambition of VIBRYX is evident, and early indications suggest the execution aligns with its bold vision. Whether the collection delivers acoustically as well as aesthetically remains a question for an experiential test. Nonetheless, VIBRYX challenges conventional ideas by proposing a lifestyle where music is integrated deeply within the home environment, offering a thought-provoking design narrative.
Source: yankodesign.com