The seed of an idea: Arper Catifa

'From small seeds grow mighty trees' goes the popular saying, and for Arper it was the Catifa chair that provided the seed from which its international reputation grew. Designed in 2000 by Spanish studio Lievore Altherr Molina (now: Lievore Altherr), the chair is the company’s most iconic product and encapsulates its design values of balance, intuition, family, colours, light and play.

Catifa began with a simple idea: to create a chair with a minimal form that is shaped to fit the body’s contours. The seat resembles a carpet caught in the wind, and was designed to utilise a unique manufacturing process that optimises its use of material. The result is a pared-back form with universal appeal, which derives much of its character from its use of colour. The innovative bi-colour production developed in 2001 enables a wide range of specification opportunities to suit any scenario.

Catifa’s iconic form also continues to inform and inspire the rest of Arper’s collections, serving as a benchmark for the values that define the company’s human-centred approach. 'We wanted to create an object that felt natural, spontaneous, almost inevitable, while clearly the result of precision and care,' say the designers, Lievore Altherr Molina. 'Perhaps most importantly, we wanted to create a form that was in dialogue with the body – one that conferred ease, relaxation, comfort, and softness.'

The simplicity and ingenuity of the original Catifa 53 have contributed to its iconic status and timeless appeal. The chair’s DNA has been used to create a collection that provides alternative functions and new interpretations that respond to its users’ changing needs. These many variations of colour, texture, finish and function represent a mighty family tree that has grown from the simplest of small seeds.

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