Rolf Benz Nova Two-seater, Fabric Orange

Rolf Benz Nova – from high-back sofa to bed

Joachim Nees designed the Nova for Rolf Benz in 2013. A year later, it won the Red Dot Award and the ‘Best of Best’ distinction at the Interior Innovation Award. The idea: one sofa takes on the roles of high-back sofa, recliner, daybed and bed. This is made possible by a metal and wood inner frame with a built-in adjustment mechanism. The seat and back are made of layers of polyurethane foam in different densities and degrees of firmness. The seat is covered with a soft foam topper, and a continuous decorative seam frames the upholstery.

Nova two-seater in orange fabric – floor model

This Nova is a two-seater with an orange fabric cover and a sleep function. It is a floor model: the sofa was on display in a showroom and has never been used in a home. The strong orange makes a bold statement, for example against a white or grey wall. In everyday use, the Nova seats two, and when guests visit, it becomes a bed. It is one of a kind.

Seating comfort and space

The Nova's upholstery is soft and relaxed: you sit in the sofa rather than on it. The seat height of 44 cm is standard. At around 1.93 m wide and 1.18 m deep, the two-seater also fits into smaller rooms. When the back is folded up, it reaches around 45 cm higher. If you use the sofa as a bed, you need more depth: Rolf Benz gives just under two metres for the lie-flat sofa.

Functions and additions

The Nova has several positions. Fold the back upwards and you get an extra-high backrest for sitting upright. Pull the seat forwards and the back lowers to any angle, right down to the lying position. This turns the sofa into a place to relax, a daybed or a bed. The headrest can also be adjusted. The series could be supplemented with cushions in various sizes and a side tray in saddle leather.

Caring for the fabric cover

Vacuum the fabric cover regularly with the upholstery nozzle or brush it gently, so that dust does not settle into the weave. Dab fresh stains from the outside inwards with a damp, light-coloured cloth, without rubbing. According to Rolf Benz, small bobbles on the surface can be removed with a fabric shaver.

Why a Rolf Benz Nova floor model?

A floor model has been on display but never used in a home. Rolf Benz was founded in Nagold in 1964 and stands for upholstered furniture made in Germany. The Nova is one of the brand's award-winning designs: in 2014, it received the Red Dot Award and ‘Best of Best’ at the Interior Innovation Award. Further down the line, the manufacturer offers a reupholstery service through specialist retailers. This piece has been inspected in eight stations.