Oyster Chair
by Michael Sodeau

Michael Sodeau’s designs for OFFECCT: seductive and sensual

OFFECCT recently embarked on a long-term collaboration with the internationally well-known British designer Michael Sodeau, with whom it has been in contact for several years. The first result of this new arrangement is an elegant series of easy chairs inspired by the Swedes’ love of shellfish. The name Oyster also suggests the idea of a place to escape to—somewhere that belongs to no-one else, even though it exists within a larger milieu. Taking an environmentally sustainable approach has been a major priority throughout the project, from initial concept to finished product.

“It’s exciting for us to cooperate with Michael Sodeau, and his innovative thinking provides yet another opportunity to develop new seating furniture for the consumer and the conference environment,” says OFFECCT’s CEO Kurt Tingdal. “We aim to be the leader in furniture for international conference environments, and new designers who add their expertise to our development team are an important component in our success.”

Sodeau knows how to create beautiful, appealing design. In his Oyster easy chair series, he weaves sensuality, comfort, and flexibility into a well-proportioned whole. The shape of the easy chair is inspired by the seductive shell of an oyster, and the curved armrests offer users a breathing space in the midst of busy environment. The easy chair would suit many public spaces, such as a hotel lobby, where it would both be a beautiful object and provide a relaxing and comfortable seat. For someone looking for a place to work undisturbed, Oyster offers an inviting retreat.

“Designing a good easy chair is a challenge that calls for a well-developed ability to identify with the chair user,” Sodeau explains. “I usually think about how people will sit and move in the chair, how it will be used,and where it will be used.”

Protecting the environment is a priority for both OFFECCT and Michael Sodeau. An environmental perspective has been key throughout the development of Oyster, resulting in a more efficient use of materials. Despite its considerable size, the easy chair requires a relatively small amount of material to produce.

“As a designer, you have a great environmental responsibility,” Sodeau observes. “In all our projects, we consider and discuss the sustainability aspect, and look for areas where we can improve. In most cases,we find something we can add or do to make the product more environmentally sustainable. For Oyster,we used a minimum of materials, worked to reduce transport costs, and thought through all aspects of the sustainability perspective.”

OFFECCT

Amazonas help save the rainforest

As an example of their strong environmental commitment, Offecct developed a nesting table in collaboration with designer Eero Koivisto. The table, which has been given the name Amazonas, is produced in materials that are 100 % recyclable. The inspiration to design the table came to Eero Koivisto during a flight above the Amazon forest and its foliage. Parts of the proceeds from the Amazonas nesting tables support The Children's Rainforest, a Swedish non-profit environmental organization that has turned rainforests into nature reserves since 1987.

“When I was creating Amazonas I was thinking a lot about environmental issues. As a designer, one can try to create an environmentally sustainable product that people don’t want to throw away. That is why Amazonas is a mono-material – in this case steel – that is 100 per cent recyclable. In addition, some of the money from every table sold will go to a project to save the rain forests.”

Check out: Eero Koivisto

SOUNDWAVE®
SOUNDWAVE® Product Catalog

Acoustic control How we perceive sound depends on the physical nature of our surroundings, and yet acoustics are an aspect of interior design that is frequently overlooked. In public spaces, open plan interiors and many contemporary environments characterised by hard surfaces, acoustic control is an essential element in making spaces enjoyable to inhabit.

Functionality and aestethic The SOUNDWAVE® series of sculptural wall panels combines functionality and aesthetic and is specifically designed to enhance the acoustic properties of any interior used for human communication and social interaction, such as offices, restaurants, conference rooms, foyers etc. While most acoustic products are concealed in the fabric of the interior, soundwave resembles 3D wallpaper, making acoustic control a visible dimension of environmental design and easy to apply even in existing interiors. SOUNDWAVE® has attracted a lot of attention since being launched in 1999 and is now a well-known registered trademark. The owner of the brand, development, production and distribution is the Swedish design company OFFECCT AB.

Orignial design by Teppo Asikainen
SOUNDWAVE®, by the finnish designer Teppo Asikainen, is the original design from 1999. Teppo Asikainen is one of the partners of Valvomo, an architecture and design office based in Helsinki, Finland. The studio works on all areas of design, from architecture to objects. Their designs are included in the permanent collections of several museums, including MoMA in New York. In addition to OFFECCT, the firm works for a number of Japanese and European design manufacturers. 

BOND

OFFECCT is launching a brand new range of furniture by Jean-Marie Massaud. The name of the collection, BOND, comes from the concept behind the new range of furniture: to join together or create bonds of friendship. The simple, soft forms invite meetings between people. The design is minimalist to prevent it distracting from the individual. The elegant, modern cut and clean lines are unassuming, yet with a distinct attitude. Jean-Marie Massaud is one of France's most interesting designers. Jean-Marie's big breakthrough came at the furniture fair in Milan in 2005. He thinks design should create a spiritual sensation, physical and emotional well-being. Jean-Marie and OFFECCT have been developing the BOND range of furniture for two years, but the partnership in fact hails back to the EASY BLOCK product.

Also check out:
+ 2007 Stockholm Furniture Fair
+ 2006 Stockholm Furniture Fair
+ 2005 Stockholm Furniture Fair
+ News: Offecct once again leads the pack in Stockholm

Bond Table

Bond Easy Chair