Roche Bobois x Architect Ed Calma: An Understated Design For The Iconic Mah Jong Sofa

Award-winning architect Ed Calma is the design principal of Lor L Calma & Partners, an architectural, space planning, interior designing, furniture and lighting manufacturing firm. He graduated from Columbia University and Pratt Institute both in New York, and established himself as an architect in NYC for more than a decade. When he returned to Manila and joined his father, the legendary Lor Calma, in his firm, he helped forever change architecture and design in the Philippines for the better.

 

READ: Icons Reimagine An Icon: "Interactions" By Roche Bobois Manila Features A Collaboration With 10 Creative Filipinos

 

Architect Ed Calma

 

Known for his modern design sensibility, Ed’s work has good architecture on its very core. He and his father believe that architecture is an art form that’s beautiful to look at and serves its purpose well at the same time.

“Sometimes when I approach a certain project, I let the form sort of evolve out from looking at the function. But sometimes, the form sort of comes out from looking at the site, and suddenly, I feel that this certain form would be appropriate for this site and the function would just fit in to whatever form that is,” he says of his design process.

 

Serendra Bridge

 

Their firm is behind masterfully done projects like the Costa Pacifica in Baler, Serendra Bridge in Taguig, Univers in Makati, Z Bar in Cebu, Henry Sy Sr. Innovation Center in Quezon City, De La Salle University Centennial Building Competition and College of Saint Benilde both in Manila, among many others.

 

Ed Calma's interpretation of the iconic Mah Jong Sofa | Photo from Metro Society

 

For his collaboration with French furniture brand Roche Bobois, he applied the same design principle, allowing the form of the iconic Mah Jong Sofa to dictate every artistic fold in what the master architect describes as a “minimal and understated” piece.

Impressed by the versatility of the Roche Bobois creation, Ed expresses, “The idea of the Mah Jong chair being able to congregate or aggregate a lot of ideas in one furniture piece is an idea that the world should emulate.”

Watch Ed talk about architecture and good design, his tie-up with Roche Bobois, and his interpretation of the Mah Jong Sofa:

 

 

 

Save the date for “Interactions,” Roche Bobois Manila’s Mah Jong exhibition launch on September 19 at Whitespace in Pasong Tamo (Chino Roces Ave.) Extension, Makati. The Roche Bobois Philippines showroom is located at 2100 Don Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City and is open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM. For inquiries, call (+632) 5198240 or visit https://www.roche-bobois.com/en-PH.

 

Produced by Joan Ko

Videography by Pat Buenaobra

Video editing by Jason Roque