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Go to shop9 April 2025
The American designer explains how the idea for Haybale, the modular armchair with pouf for Moooi, was born.
Innovative and archaic at the same time, the Haybale collection by Nicholas Baker is one of the new products presented by Moooi at the Salone del Mobile, in the always dreamlike and evocative installations, proposed by the company in its new Milanese store and at the fair. Baker has embraced the innovative profile of Moooi and has drawn on memories of his childhood to bring the atmosphere of the Kentucky farm where he played as a child into the living room.
As he himself explains, his design method consists in finding formal solutions that bring joy as well as functionality, which is why the emotional and evocative component cannot be missing. And it is accompanied, in this case, by the contemporary and innovative profile of Moooi, in a very interesting combination.
What was your inspiration/concept for the Haybale Lounge Chair?
Every year growing up we would have a big family reunion at my great grandma’s farm in Kentucky. It’s about as classic a farm as one can have: horses, a tractor, a red barn, a chicken coop, and a hayloft. My cousins and I would spend all day exploring the barn filled with rusty old tools and equipment, but our favorite part of the barn was the loft. We’d climb up the 10ft ladder and run around on the elevated platform. We’d move around the bales, building structures to create our secret hideout, only to get called in for supper as the sun set. Thinking back on this nostalgic memory sparked an idea. I loved the way we used hay bales as building blocks. Hay bales are used as impromptu seating at fall festivals and of course on hay rides. The mundane hay bale is iconic and modular. I felt compelled to explore how a sofa system could look inspired by this idea.
In what kind of spaces and for what kind of situation is it designed?
I feel like it has this cozy casualness to it. It’s something I could see in a study or lounge space. It’s distinct and would work well in contemporary spaces as a statement piece.
Could you tell us more about the materials and colors involved?
Originally I had designed the Haybale to feature a classic tan leather to tie in with golden hay bales and the farm aesthetic. Working with Moooi we also selected a wide range of materials including some textured fabrics that even look like hay.
In your personal approach to design, what are your priorities?
A lot of my work is focused on what I call the delightful future. I enjoy adding a bit of delight to our daily objects; maybe it’s the subtle nostalgia of the hay bale or a clever way a light turns on. Every moment is a chance to add a wink of great design and make someone smile. I pair this delightfulness with my fascination with the future. I’m always experimenting with how new technologies can enhance the objects we design. I believe technology is a force for good and that it’s our job as designers to embrace the future and make it delightful.
What do you like the most about working with Moooi?
It’s been great working with the Moooi team. They’ve been able to translate my original concept into something gorgeous and comfortable. Moooi is also one of the few brands that I feel is willing to be bold and try new things. They often are experimenting with technologies and pushing the status quo which aligns well with my design philosophy.
