(Image credit: photography Jonas Lindstrom, art direction Doshi Levien)
Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien of London design studio Doshi Levien set out to explore how seating can help shape relations between people. The answer is 'Session', their new collection for German manufacturer Brunner Group, comprising 23 elements that can be combined into multiple configurations. Conceived as a series of separable, replaceable and repairable components with easily removable fabrics, the collection is designed to adapt to the changing needs of contemporary offices and other workspaces.
Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien
The duo wanted to bring together the softness and tactility of hospitality environments with the performance and flexibility required in the workplace, supporting everything from relaxed and informal sitting to more upright working and conversation. Brunner, a family-owned company founded in 1977 and known for functional, German-made products, proved an ideal partner: its strength lies in marrying the craft of upholstery and soft forms with highly engineered technical solutions, a balance of softness and architectural coherence central to the collection.
'Inspired by improvisation' — a nod to the casualness of a jam session — the designs include armchairs, sofas, curved elements, ottomans and daybeds that can be combined in various ways to shape relationships and possibilities within a space. The furniture works at different scales: individual pieces stand alone, while larger configurations begin to define areas within an open interior, creating varying degrees of intimacy, enclosure and interaction.
Alongside the smaller elements, a series of L-shaped designs contributes further to the interior architecture of a workspace, pairing with integrated surfaces and swivelling writing tables to encourage connection, collaboration and relaxation. The L-shape also serves as a graphic element linking the softer components, giving the designers the opportunity to contrast wood, leather and textile within the same piece.