molo softwall paper partition in nature-inspired blue

Vancouver-based studio molo, led by designers Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen, has expanded its renowned soft collection by introducing sloped softwall in two nuanced shades of blue: glacier and deep blue. The debut coincides with a sustainable manufacturing partnership with the historic German paper mill Gmund Paper.

The designers envision these sculptural objects not as rigid furniture, but as flexible layers that allow users to intuitively shape spaces for gatherings, performances, and transitions. The founders met in 1994 while studying architecture at Dalhousie University and established molo in Vancouver in 2003.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Utilizing a pliable honeycomb structure, the softwall expands in length one hundred times its compressed form and connects sequentially via magnets. Key features of the new blue paper system include:

• Translucent glacier blue paper that glows with the luminosity of a glacier crevasse
• Opaque deep blue paper that evokes ocean facets reflecting and absorbing light
• Fire-retardant, recyclable components free of harmful substances
• FSC® Certified (FSC® C158591) paper pigments

"Rather than designing furniture with rigid definitions of use, we envision layers of possibilities — abstract objects to accommodate gatherings, performances, pauses, and transitions."

Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen

Located on the Mangfall River in Germany, Gmund Paper has manufactured high-quality paper for nearly two centuries. The mill operates entirely on hydropower, with 75 percent generated by its own turbines. Their production process for molo incorporates modern innovations such as lasers and robotics while sending zero solid waste to landfills.