For more than 160 years, Ligne Roset has evolved from a family-run business in France into one of the world’s most influential names in contemporary furniture.

The brand is known for its collaborations with renowned designers, resulting in pieces that are not only visually distinctive but have also challenged conventional ideas of comfort, function, and form.

Among its extensive collection, three designs stand out as defining expressions of the Ligne Roset identity: Togo, Pumpkin, and Ploum.

Their significance goes beyond commercial success. Each has left a lasting mark on modern furniture design, remained in production for decades, and become an enduring reference point whenever Ligne Roset is discussed.

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Why Togo, Pumpkin, and Ploum Became Ligne Roset Icons

Not every piece of furniture earns the status of an icon. Togo, Pumpkin, and Ploum have endured because they share a rare combination of distinctive design, cultural relevance, and lasting appeal.

All three remain in production today despite being introduced decades apart. Their silhouettes are instantly recognisable, even without the Ligne Roset name attached.

They have also earned widespread recognition within the international design community, appearing in architecture and interior publications, luxury hotels, galleries, and design museums around the world.

Together, these three pieces trace the evolution of Ligne Roset—from the experimental spirit of the 1970s to the more fluid and expressive language of 21st-century design.

1. Togo (1973): The Revolution of Frameless Seating

Designer: Michel Ducaroy

If there is one design most closely associated with Ligne Roset, it is undoubtedly Togo.

Designed by French designer Michel Ducaroy in 1973, Togo challenged the conventional construction of modern sofas. At the time, most sofas relied on rigid wooden frames combined with substantial cushioning. Ducaroy took an entirely different approach, largely eliminating the traditional frame and replacing it with a construction made from multiple layers of high-density foam.

The result was a lightweight, flexible, and remarkably comfortable piece that adapts naturally to the body.

The distinctive folds across Togo’s surface are not simply decorative. They are the result of its sophisticated layered-foam construction, allowing the piece to maintain its unmistakable sculptural form while delivering a relaxed sitting experience.

Today, Togo is available in a range of configurations, from armchairs and loveseats to sofas and sectional arrangements. More than five decades after its introduction, it remains one of Ligne Roset’s most recognisable and enduring designs.

A Few Things to Know About Togo

• Michel Ducaroy was inspired by the crumpled form of a tube of toothpaste being squeezed back into itself.

• Togo has been continuously produced since its introduction in 1973.

• It is widely regarded by design collectors as one of the most influential furniture designs of the 20th century.

• Togo frequently appears in boutique hotels, art galleries, celebrity homes, and international design publications.

2. Pumpkin (1971/2007): From Presidential Residence to Design Icon

Designer: Pierre Paulin

If Togo represents a revolution in furniture construction, Pumpkin tells a different story—one that is closely intertwined with French political and cultural history.

Pumpkin was originally designed in 1971 by Pierre Paulin at the request of Georges Pompidou, then President of France. A passionate supporter of modern art and design, Pompidou wanted to introduce a more contemporary atmosphere to his private apartment at the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president.

Paulin responded with a collection of furniture defined by soft, organic forms and rounded contours. Among them was the Pumpkin Chair, whose sculptural silhouette evokes the segmented curves of a pumpkin.

The design was initially created exclusively for the presidential setting and was not widely produced. It was not until 2007 that Ligne Roset collaborated with Pierre Paulin to bring Pumpkin to a broader international market, adapting its dimensions and proportions for contemporary use.

Today, Pumpkin is recognised as one of the most iconic designs in Ligne Roset’s history.

A Few Things to Know About Pumpkin

• The original design was created specifically for President Georges Pompidou’s private apartment at the Élysée Palace.

• Pierre Paulin was one of Pompidou’s favourite designers, known for his forward-looking approach to furniture design.

• The chair’s organic form was inspired by the rounded contours of a pumpkin.

• The design entered broader production more than three decades after it was first created.

3. Ploum (2011): Organic Comfort for the Modern Era

Designers: Ronan Bouroullec & Erwan Bouroullec

If Togo defined the spirit of Ligne Roset in the 1970s, Ploum represents the brand’s design language in the 21st century.

Designed by brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec in 2011, Ploum was born from a simple yet ambitious idea: to create a sofa that feels comfortable from virtually every position.

Rather than prescribing a single way to sit, Ploum invites movement. Users can sit upright, lean back, stretch out, or recline in different positions while maintaining a sense of comfort. Its organic form follows the contours of the body, contributing to its reputation as one of Ligne Roset’s most comfortable designs.

Another defining element is its use of a specially developed stretch fabric, which follows the complex contours of the foam structure while maintaining a clean, sculptural appearance.

Ploum has also received numerous accolades, including an EDIDA (ELLE Decoration International Design Award) in April 2012 at the Salon du Meuble in Milan. The award was among several recognitions received by the Bouroullec brothers for Ploum following its launch in January 2011.

A Few Things to Know About Ploum

• The name “Ploum” was chosen for its soft, playful sound and its association with the sensation of sinking into the sofa.

• Its construction requires a significantly more complex upholstery technique than conventional sofas.

• Ploum has become one of the Bouroullec brothers’ most recognisable contributions to contemporary furniture design.

Three Designs, One Enduring Legacy

Across the Ligne Roset collection, Togo, Pumpkin, and Ploum stand out as three designs that have earned true icon status.

Each emerged from a different historical context and introduced a distinctly different approach to furniture design. Yet all three share an ability to remain relevant long after their original debut.

Togo demonstrated Ligne Roset’s willingness to challenge traditional ideas of sofa construction in the early 1970s.

Pumpkin showed how a design created for an exclusive presidential setting could eventually be transformed into a piece of furniture accessible to a much wider audience without losing its original character.

Ploum, meanwhile, represents Ligne Roset’s continued exploration of organic forms, contemporary materials, and the relationship between the human body and furniture.

Together, these designs demonstrate that furniture can be far more than functional objects. It can become a reflection of changing ideas about design, culture, comfort, and the way we live.

For design enthusiasts, owning one of these iconic Ligne Roset pieces is therefore about more than bringing a premium piece of furniture into the home. It is also a way of bringing a piece of contemporary French design history into the space—one that has continued to influence the way we think about furniture across generations.