Bronze Furniture · 2023

Overlap Sofa

by Tomoki Doi

Bronze A' Design Award 2023 in Furniture
CLIENT: Soell inc.
Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,608
Verification code 8C984EEBC8 · Verify this award

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release

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About Overlap Sofa

Overlap is a sofa formed by overlapping two blocks. The backrest and the seat are set off-axis and arranged to form a flat surface, which allows a variety of uses and arrangements. When several units are placed side by side, the backrest and the seating surface merge into a single element. The sofa can be placed in the centre of a room or in a corner. In public spaces, units can be combined in straight lines, zigzags, squares or crosses. Overlap is made of wood, urethane and fabric, and can be split into two parts for transport.

About the Bronze A' Design Award

Overlap Sofa is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Overlap Sofa is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Overlap Sofa splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: A sofa formed by overlapping two blocks

While fulfilling its functionality, this sofa presents an object-like look that transforms its impression with every angle of view. The backrest and seat are off-axis and laid out to form a flat surface, thereby creating a variety of usages and arrangements.

When several units are placed side by side, the backrest and the seating surface merge into a single element, blending into one.
Dimensions & Packaging: W1955 D1063 H780
Tags: sofa, furniture, public space
Production Technology: wood, urethan, fabric
Design Challenge: The sofa is made up of two blocks, and we paid particular attention to the balance between the two. We have also made it easy to transport and carry in by making it possible to split it in two without any design discomfort.
Research: We sometimes use our environment to suit our bodies, such as sitting on stairs. In this project, rather than designing a sofa, we worked to create an object that has elements of a sofa and aimed to create a situation where different ways of sitting are created.
Inspiration: Rather than designing a sofa, we started with the idea of adding a sitting function to a simple rectangular object.
By stopping to design the usual functions of a sofa, such as the seat, backrest and armrests, and instead thinking of the function from the combination of the two components, new uses and various combinations of sofas can be created.

By shifting the axis of the sofa from its normal orientation, we also intended to change the gaze of the person sitting on it.
Project Duration: Completed in October 2021
Operation Flow: Overlap is designed to be placed in the centre of a room or in a corner of a room without discomfort. In public spaces, they can be combined in straight lines, zigzags, squares or crosses.
Image Credits: photo: Ryoukan Abe