More, 30 years of furniture with attitude and ecological awareness

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More, Varan round table, design Gil Coste, photo courtesy

More, the Hamburg-based German brand, as told by its founder and managing director Bernhard Müller. A foretaste of all the innovations in progress for the Salone del Mobile

Annus mirabilis 1993. The birth of more, a company with sustainability at its heart and in its mind. Sustainability as a means of expression and growth. A simple principle, adopted as a guideline entirely naturally. Where each step, even the smallest, has its own importance. For a better, more ecologically-aware world.

The innate aesthetic sense of its founder and MD, the architect Bernhard Müller, has inspired furniture produced as if it were for his own home, rather than that of others. “Furniture with attitude,” as he puts it. Communicators with a great sense of freedom rather than prevaricators in the space. Made to last a lifetime.

How can we spare even more resources? What can we do without? Where can we replace conventional with eco-friendly materials? These are questions Müller and his team have asked themselves over the years. The answers lie in the comprehensive catalogues in which warm wood, textiles, leathers and natural materials from sustainable sources and responsible production prevail. The high craftsmanship of carpenters, tanners and upholsterers and attention to detail do the rest. For example, tanning using olive leaf extract, or employing kapok, a 100% organic fibre, or ramie, also known as Chinese grass, that require no pesticides nor irrigation nor a lengthy bleaching process, being naturally white. “No compromise in terms of quality of materials, even when it comes to the invisible components, such as padding,” says Müller. Now it’s over to him to tell us more.

bernard muller, salone milano — Bernhard Müller, photo courtesy

What made you set up this company? Have you realised your dreams over the last 30 years?

I built my first furniture from steel when I was 17. Simple, straight profiles: a bit deconstructivist. In the last 30 years, starting with 60 sqm and an empty fridge, I’ve studied architecture, had my first partnership, set up my first furniture company at 23, realised more dreams. I am driven by new ideas, simple solutions and friendship with the designers. My approach is and was always more sculptural than business-driven.

You believe that substantial design aims not only to achieve formal perfection, but also to find answers to the question of ‘how do we want to live?’ How would you like to live, or do you already live just as you wanted?

I’ve always lived the way I wanted and still do. I am really thankful for that. I was raised to protect things and beings and not throw away things lightly. I try to pass this on to my kids and within the company – happiness counts more than making a good profit.

more, cape, salone milano — More, Cape coffee table, design Gil Coste, photo courtesy

Sustainability’s been part of your DNA since 1993. What does it mean to you?

See the above. My education shaped my DNA. We really think about what goes into making a good product, we don’t use teak or other woods like wenge from places that need to be protected, not exploited for profit. I’m glad there are other options and that people are considering their footprint.

Wool from New Zealand, leather from England, Austria and Germany, tanned in Italy. Let wood rest at a certain humidity between each processing stage and assemble the furniture in Germany. Let’s all take our places in this immense productive context.

It is always good to find the perfect material for each product. We like knowing not just how to build but how it feels to create and acquire a product from the material we use. We continue to hone products that have been on the market for a while. Learning on the job is a lot of fun. For me working with the same suppliers and manufacturers is key – to understand precisely how they work, to go forward and try to expand the manufacturing processes.

cape, more, salone milano — More, Cape coffee table, design Gil Coste, photo courtesy

How will you celebrate this anniversary – with new products, special editions or an exceptional display at the Salone del Mobile?

With a limited collection of 3 items. The designers’ favourite pieces – 30 signed ones each. Gil Coste designed the VARAN sofa table in lockdown, as a landscape in front of a sofa. Deconstructive, sharp angular and solid. From storm-felled trees in a Belgian park, not cut down. We used almost all of it, even the parts we usually cut out, to show the full beauty of the wood. Peter Fehrentz designed the CUT side table in marble and in a special size. Small and loud, in a stunning green. I designed the orange leather and natural cowhide DRIP table. Like a fashion item – quite unlike the cold steel and wooden versions of this 10-year-old design.

For the Salone’s 30th anniversary we designed a beautiful, unique stand. The pavilion will be inspired by case study houses, a simple structure with a big water basin. Less a pavilion, more of a house. The stand promises surprises at the fair. Plus a small redesign or refresh of our logo. Thanks for 30 years of happiness and fun.