At Artifort, we believe that furniture deserves respect and care. With love and precision, our skilled craftsmen create design furniture built to last and that can be passed down from generation to generation. A perfect example is the original C684 sofa owned by Eng Bo Kho, which he received from his mother and his father, the renowned designer Kho Liang Ie. One of the pioneers and driving forces behind the Artifort DNA. Artifort spoke with Eng Bo about the personal significance of this iconic sofa, his father’s legacy and the enduring value of timeless design.



DESIGN CLASSIC WITH A
PERSONAL STORY


“My father, Kho Liang Ie, can be described as a creative mind who was well ahead of his time,” says Eng Bo Kho, who is also the curator of the Kho Liang Ie Archives. “Together with Artifort, he introduced groundbreaking designs from the late 1950s through to the golden era in the mid-1970s. In 1968, he designed this sofa, the C684. A brilliant design with clean lines and a timeless visual language. When I got a larger bedroom at the age of twelve, I said, ‘I want that sofa!’”


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Eng Bo Kho on his C684 sofa before the reupholstery




















Since then, the sofa has moved with him wherever he went. “I’m really someone who forms a connection with objects. I’ve sat on this sofa my entire life and so have my children. They actually grew up with it. This sofa is never going anywhere. My whole life has unfolded around and on this piece. When my father designed sofas and chairs, they often ended up in his own home. That way, he could experience them for himself.” 



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In 1968, the C684 sofa became part of the family home and has been reupholstered three times by Artifort. “Each time, it feels like you’re getting a brand-new sofa. I don’t like throwing things away. I always try to choose items based on quality. This is a vision I share with my father. That furniture should be both beautiful and timeless, and of such quality that it lasts practically forever.”

For the third reupholstering, Eng Bo Kho chose Ploegwool 38 by De Ploeg. “A beautiful deep brown colour that suits everything, and one I will definitely enjoy for years to come. I’m very pleased with it!”

Through Eng Bo Kho’s story and his iconic C684 sofa, Artifort not only showcases its rich design heritage but also highlights the value of furniture as more than just a objects. They carry memories, are connected to personal stories and are made to last for generations.



CHERISH THE ORIGINAL, RESTORE IT BY ARTIFORT  



An original Artifort piece is designed to last for generations. When the upholstery shows signs of long-term use, the official Artifort service centre, Artifort Shop, offers a fresh start. Here, reupholstering is carried out with the same care, precision and dedication as the original design - by skilled craftsmen and master upholsterers who create Artifort furniture, working in the Artifort atelier where it all began. Even if the piece is several decades old.


 At the Artifort showroom in Schijndel and at Artifort dealers, you can view high-quality fabrics and leathers. After reupholstering, the furniture looks and feels like new again. 


> View the possibilities





Photo of Eng Bo Kho: Jeroen van der Wielen - about.today

© Artifort