Cala began with the intention to create a large, majestic chair with a strong spatial presence for outdoor settings. The closest reference the studio found was the iconic Peacock chair, also known as the Emmanuelle, whose expressive scale and enveloping form suggested a starting point. The forms of Cala were generated through Jonathan Levien’s skilled manipulation of wire, producing natural curves in the tubular frame that could then be woven with rope. The open weave allows the surrounding landscape to be seen through its surface, offering both transparency and a sense of protection.
For Doshi Levien, the chair was never conceived as a simple object, but as a space – one that frames a person, shaping their posture and gestures. The studio’s sensitivity to how objects define and occupy space led it to extend Cala into a family that includes sofas, tables, footstools and dining chairs. These pieces carry the same generosity of spirit: tables with marble tops and monolithic bases, sofas that balance porosity with comfort, and a carefully developed colour palette that links metal, fabric and rope to both architecture and nature.

The Cala armchair won the International EDIDA Award for Best Outdoor Furniture category at Milan’s 2017 Salone del Mobile.