Project

Shaal

Client

Arper

Year

2022

Type

Sofa

Description

Shaal is a sofa collection created by Doshi Levien and Arper in 2022, bringing together beauty and sustainability with a balance of precision and softness. The design is exquisitely detailed and crafted at both the front and back, and available in a variety of modules, allowing it to adapt to different spatial layouts. The chamfer detail at the base gives the sofa its visual lightness and its covers are fully removable.

Sustainability is central to Shaal. The sofa is designed to be completely separable for assembly, repair, replacement and end-of-use recycling. It is made in Arper’s manufactory near Treviso by master craftspeople, sustaining industrial and craft skills in the local region and supporting the communities connected to this work.

Credits

Photos: Arper  Drawing: Nipa Doshi

(Fig 1)

INTELLIGENT CONSTRUCTION OF SHAAL SOFA

Shaal is crafted with equal attention to its front and back, allowing it to sit comfortably in a wide range of spatial layouts. A chamfered base gives the piece visual lightness, while its cohesive form gently conceals its modular, fully separable construction.

(Fig 2)

BEAUTY COMFORT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien are photographed for the launch of Shaal at the 2022 Salone Del Mobile, highlighting a collection that combines precision with softness, lightness with comfort, and sustainability with beauty.

(Fig 3)

CONCEPT SKETCHES FOR SHAAL

The concept sketches for Shaal capture the structured and defined outside shell, with a soft inside. This contrast is emphasised by combining different materials and textures to define the tactile duality of the design.

(Fig 4)

Precision with softness

Shaal is exquisitely detailed and crafted at the front and the back to suit different spatial layouts, while the chamfer detail at the bottom makes it visually light.

(Fig 5)

SCALE MODEL OF SHAAL

Sketching through making: this maquette is structured with thin metal wire, while perforated card that is darted at the corners establishes the construction principle and form language for the range.

(Fig 6)

Material combinations

Doshi Levien made a “tone on tone” palette of materials to create a sophisticated, layered look with minimal contrast.

(Fig 7)

Tactility and comfort

Immaculately crafted with sartorial details, Shaal can be upholstered in different material and textile combinations to heighten its tactility and comfort. Shown here, the seat and back cushions are upholstered using Kvadrat Vidar 4, with an outer shell covered in leather.

(Fig 8)

Sustaining skills

Not only is Shaal designed to be completely separable for assembly, repair, replacement and end-of-use recycling, it is also made by master craftspeople in Arper’s manufacturing base near Treviso, thereby sustaining industrial and craft skills in the local region.