Herman Miller Partners with Gabriel Tan for the First Time to Introduce Two Studies in Organic, Modular Design
Herman Miller announces the launch of the Luva Modular Sofa Group and Cyclade Tables—two artful designs created in partnership with Portugal based Singaporean designer Gabriel Tan. Constantly exploring new ways to work across disciplines and reinterpret traditional craft and technology, Tan pays homage to a myriad of cultural intersections to these incredibly comfortable—and functional—designs.
“We’re thrilled with our partnership with Gabriel. Herman Miller takes pride in collaborating with the world’s best designers. Tan is a designer who is dedicated to preserving and elevating craftsmanship while creating dynamic furnishings that support the evolving needs of today’s customer, wherever they are.”
Ben Watson, President, Herman Miller
“When a design is successful, different people can read it in different ways. Depending on where you’re from, you can interpret and relate to these designs in a totally different way from somebody else across the world.”
Gabriel Tan, Designer
Both relaxing and supportive, Luva Modular Sofa is a study in duality: incredibly versatile and visually irresistible. Luva—Portuguese for “glove”—was designed at Tan’s studio in Porto, Portugal, its shape inspired by the soft grip and padded support of boxing gloves, as well as the delicate rolled tops of Japanese futons or Shikibuton. The result is a distinct, visually soft form, grounded in natural textiles and organic lines. Much like the glove it emulates, Luva can expand into an open back, allowing a relaxed lounge posture. With a closed “fist”, it becomes a more supported seat, serving as a place to chat and work. Luva is available in several configurations, from an armchair and chaise to a sofa or sectional. A detachable ottoman adds to the variety. Thanks to a hidden bar near the bottom of the seat, these pieces can be grouped together easily or moved apart as desired—all without changing the tactile, plush aesthetic.
Tan’s Cyclade Tables—an arrangement of three tables—emulates the form of Pangea, with islands coming together and flowing apart seamlessly. Each table is distinctive, with qualities that feel unique and organic, working just as well intertwined as they do apart. They can nest together, creating a trio of tables with different heights and purposes. Separately, their varied forms shine, balancing smooth, curved edges and intriguing negative space. Cyclade is available in a low table with an optional glass bowl for entertaining, displaying objects or adding greenery, as well as mid and high table variations. The result, in any configuration, is sculptural beauty that is just right for the heart of a living space and a distinct nod to one of Tan’s inspirations, Isamu Noguchi.
About Herman Miller Over the last century, Herman Miller has been guided by a commitment to problem-solving designs that inspire the best in people. Along the way, Herman Miller has forged critical relationships with the most visionary designers of the day, from mid-century greats like George Nelson, the Eames Office, and Isamu Noguchi, to research-oriented visionaries like Robert Propst and Bill Stumpf—and with today’s groundbreaking studios like Industrial Facility and Studio 7.5. From the birth of ergonomic furniture to manufacturing some of the twentieth century’s most iconic pieces, Herman Miller has pioneered original, timeless design that makes an enduring impact, while building a lasting legacy of design, innovation, and social good. Herman Miller is a part of MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. For more information, visit hermanmiller.com/about.
About Gabriel Tan Designer Gabriel Tan is the creator of Luva Modular Sofa Group and Cyclade Tables for Herman Miller. His work explores the interaction between humans and furniture: how we use and configure them to suit our life, no matter the stage we’re in. His practice, Gabriel Tan Studio, was founded in 2016 in his native Singapore before he moved to Porto, Portugal with his family in 2020. He keeps studios in both cities, using these influences to explore the cultural intersections between the two. Portugal is also where Tan launched Origin Made, a design brand that collaborates with small-scale local producers to make craft collectibles for the home. Tan designs for a select group of international brands including Herman Miller, B&B Italia, Abstracta and Design Within Reach, while creative directing Japanese furniture brand Ariake. For more information, visit gabriel-tan.com.