Poltrona Frau: 1,000 custom Poltrona Frau seats for the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, designed by Renzo Piano

Since 1912, Poltrona Frau has been a leader in the world of Made in Italy furnishings; from artisanship, combined with the highest building standards and the best materials, such as Pelle Frau® leather, to high-end solutions for the home and office. Poltrona Frau cultivates tradition and innovation through the Interiors in Motion division (for cars, yachts, trains and aircraft) and the Custom Interiors division (auditoriums, theatres, airports and public spaces), collaborating with major international architects and designers. The heart of the operation is the production site in Tolentino, located in the Le Marche region of Italy, an expert factory with roots in the local area. The Tolentino site is always at the forefront in the area of environmental sustainability certifications, as well as in regard to the health and safety of its employees.
The Poltrona Frau Custom Interiors division is dedicated to the development of special furnishings for museums, theatres, auditoriums, cinemas, yachts, custom offices, airports, showrooms, hotels and restaurants. The division collaborates with architects from around the world, working together in a genuine partnership. The excellence of Poltrona Frau Custom Interiors is recognised internationally, having left its mark on over 5,000 projects in more than 200 countries, with 40 specially created seating collections and over 1,200 compliance certifications.

The Poltrona Frau Custom Interiors division project for the new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, designed by Renzo Piano, is nearing completion. The Tolentino company has provided seating for the David Geffen Theater, a project specially developed over more than two years of work.
Inaugurated on September 30, 2021, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles is the first institution in the world dedicated to the exploration of the art and science of cinema.
The museum is situated in the historic May Company building, which has been renovated and expanded following Renzo Piano’s design. The 90,000 sq. foot museum includes over 15,000 sq. feet of exhibition space dedicated both to a permanent display and to temporary exhibitions, along with two cinemas and theatres, a cutting-edge educational programme, and dynamic spaces for public and special events.

Poltrona Frau’s very own Custom Interiors division developed the design for the 1,000 seats that furnish the main theatre of the David Geffen Theatre. The project was developed over more than two years of work, and thanks to the constant support provided by one of the PF Custom Interiors teams (specifically the team that specialises in seating projects) to the designers at the Renzo Piano Studio Building Workshop. The result, as has happened in other collaborations, is a unique design, completely tailored to the needs of the project.
Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau, comments: “It is very satisfying to see the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures theatre completed, a project we have worked on for some time, and which, like others, attests to our ability to develop custom solutions that are able to perfectly integrate in the architectural and interior design. This project is one of the many examples of our fruitful collaboration with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, which in this case has again given life to a significant project for the public, related to a subject as fascinating as cinema”.